McGrady, 34, gets new start with Skeeters
Michael Jordan famously, and unsuccessfully, tried to make a second career in baseball upon his first retirement from the NBA.
Now former NBA All-Star Tracy McGrady’s dreams of becoming a professional pitcher have been realized. He signed Wednesday with the independent Suger Land (Texas) Skeeters.
“It’s an honor to be a part of this club,” McGrady, 34, said in a statement released by the team, which plays in the Atlantic League. “To be a part of a team means everything to me and it’s a dream come true. I look forward to coming to the ballpark not only to play the game, but to be in the clubhouse building camaraderie with these guys. I am excited to start the journey we’re going to take this season.”
Skeeters Manager Gary Gaetti said McGrady has shown ability and progress, but he didn’t make the decision to add him to the roster until Wednesday.
“I had to ride it out,” Gaetti told KRIV-TV in Houston. “There was no reason to make that decision until I absolutely had to.
We kind of all knew that there was a pretty good possibility he was going to make the team.”
McGrady, who turns 35 next month, played baseball from age 5 until his senior year in high school, when he transferred to a school without a baseball program. He was drafted into the NBA out of high school, winning two scoring titles, and retired with more than 18,000 points and more than 5,00 rebounds in his career.
McGrady started for the Skeeters in an exhibition game last week against Alvin Community College where he threw 15 pitches - 9 for strikes - and allowed 1 run on 3 hits in 1 inning.
The Skeeters began their season Thursday against the Lancaster Barnstormers.
It’s my party
Former Chicago Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa was not invited to participate in Wednesday’s festivities commemorating the 100th anniversary of Wrigley Field, and a team official told ESPN.com that Sosa has some work to do before being welcomed back by the organization.
“There are some things Sammy needs to look at and consider prior to having an engagement with the team,” Cubs spokesman Julian Green said.
ESPN’s sources have indicated one thing Sosa, who hit 609 career home runs (545 with the Cubs), has to do is make amends with former teammates for his actions at the end of his Cubs career, including sitting out the final game of the 2004 season and leaving the stadium before the game was over.
“Sammy Sosa was a Cub that left his indelible print on this franchise, but as it was said by [owner] Tom Ricketts before, he hopes there is a time when Sammy can be back and be with the franchise,” Green said.
Sosa said in January 2013 that he is open to reconnecting with the Cubs and would like to see his No.
21 retired by the team.
“I think that is something that I’m looking for,” Sosa said of having his number retired. “That is something I want to happen. I’m kind of surprised it didn’t happen before, but time will determine everything. When that happens, I would be more comfortable and more happy. I will be there with my family.”Quote of the day
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Sports, Pages 20 on 04/25/2014