* In effect, President Trump welcomed the defending World Series winners, the Boston White Sox, to the White House the other day. That was the upshot when the Puerto Rican manager and star players of color and/or Latin American lineage stayed away. It’s also another reminder that the WH–whether its occupant is Trump or somebody who actually belongs there–is not a proper forum to salute professional athletes. Limit such a prestigious forum to those who represent the country in international competition.
* Despite the Rays fast start, the team–as of this writing–with the best record in all of MLB is the Minnesota Twins. But there’s a Rays connection. The Twins rookie manager is former Rays player and coach Rocco Baldelli.
* When it comes to college baseball, Florida is a major player. Two years ago, the University of Florida won the College World Series. The University of Miami has won it four times. But what Florida school can count two Cy Young Award winners among its alums? It’s midmajor, Deland-based Stetson University. Former Hatter Jacob deGrom won it last year with the New York Mets, and Corey Kluber won it in 2014 and 2017 with the Cleveland Indians.
* A Tampa Bay Times piece recently reflected on the Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov, the Russia native who led the NHL in scoring this year, and noted that he’s not all that cooperative with the media. As in frequent “no comment” and “next question” responses to post-game media queries.
Three points. First, for professional athletes, especially well-paid, elite ones, dealing with the media is part of the job. Players, especially marquee ones, don’t just represent themselves, but their team, their franchise and their city. It’s part of being a highly-compensated professional. Just do it.
Second, if you’ve ever been privy to locker room interviews, you know that this is where sausage is made. Most of the questions are neither thought-provoking nor incisive, especially if it’s from the broadcast side. The actual questions are only intended to prompt a pro forma deadline quote. To wit: “So, how happy are you that the team won?” “So, how thrilling was it to have scored the winning goal?” “So, walk us through that (goal, at-bat, etc.).”
Third, English is not Kucherov’s native language, and he has had to learn on the job. He’s still learning. Cut him some slack.
* The media and horse racing fans had plenty to digest with that unprecedented disqualification of the winning horse, “Maximum Security,” at the Kentucky Derby. Win or lose, I was frankly taken aback by the name. “Maximum Security?” It seems too suitable for the dark times we now live in. “Secretariat,” “Citation,” “Count Fleet,” “Whirlaway,” “Charismatic,” “Silver Charm,” “Winning Colors,” “Gallant Fox,” “Lucky Debonair,” or “Carry Back” actually sound like winning horse names. And if you want to be cute or funny, there’s always “Foolish Pleasure,” “I’ll Have Another,” “Behave Yourself” or “Funny Cide.” But “Maximum Security”? What’s next? “Old Sparky”? “Collusion?” “Little Rocket Man”?