- Champa Bay update: For the first time a Tampa Bay championship team, the Bucs, has visited the White House. Timing is everything. Their host was not a spotlight-hogging, narcissist-in-chief.
- The NFL’s Washington franchise, the erstwhile Redskins, still hasn’t settled on a new nickname. Definitely out: any kind of Native American name. Even the Washington Lobbyists would be an improvement. It definitely won’t be the Washington Vaxxers. Washington and the Indianapolis Colts are the only two (out of 32) NFL teams below the 50 percent vaccination rate.
- Commissioner Rob Manfred has indicated that MLB will likely be dropping the pandemic-prompted rule changes that mandated 7-inning doubleheaders and starting extra innings with runners on second base. It’s also possible, indicated Manfred, that the designated hitter could be extended to the National League.
Just do it. It continues to make no sense that a key MLB provision only applies to one of two leagues.
- “Out with an upper-body injury for the next couple of days.” That’s how Lightning General Manager Julien BriseBoise, using quintessential hockey-injury language, referred to the Stanley Cup being dinged during the recent celebration.
- Should the U.S. women’s basketball team bring home Olympic gold, it will be the fifth–yes, fifth–Olympic gold medal for guards Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird.
- When Italy became the soccer champions of Europe by defeating England in Euro 2021, the Italians and Europe did more than celebrate. They got derisively in the face of the Brits. Typical was this comment from Alessandra Moretti, a member of the European Parliament. “Go Italy. A united Europe beats the England of Brexit.”