The unique perspective and provocative opinions of Joe O’Neill
Sports Shorts
A recent Rays-Yankees game at Yankee Stadium was held up for a while as a result of the “new normal” we now live in. But it had nothing to do with COVID or BLM. Umpires cleared the field and sent all players into their dugouts—as a result of a drone flying over the field.
“We simply couldn’t play football and look parents in the eye and say, ‘We’ve got your kids’ best interest in mind.’” Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott, addressing his conference’s bottom-line rationale for canceling fall football.
How ironic. Baseball is taking measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus–while message-sending, 101-mph pitches aimed at a batter’s head are still part of the game.
Sports teams love their nicknames—often derived from an actual surname: think “Stammer” and “Kuch” for the Bolts. But the Rays’ surprisingly successful, rookie pitcher Josh Fleming arguably deserves better than, uh, “Flem.”
“We don’t like them; they don’t like us.”—Rays centerfielder Kevin Kiermaier, in reference to the Rays-Yankees relationship.