LITTLE ROCK — Torre, Sox to tangle once again
Here we go again.
ESPN reported Sunday that Major League Baseball executive vice president of baseball operations Joe Torre plans to investigate reports that players from the Boston Red Sox drank alcohol in the clubhouse during games this season.
ESPN also noted reports that MLB could ban drinking from all clubhouses.
“It’s something we’re concerned about, just to make sure that we get all the facts and that’s my area,” Torre told the Boston Globe. “I know I have plans just to talk to some people.”
Boston starting pitchers Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz have admitted to drinking beer in the team’s clubhouse during games which they were not scheduled to pitch. The Boston Globe cited “team sources” that reported fellow starters Josh Beckett andJohn Lackey also drank in the clubhouse.
“If we do happen to bar alcohol from the clubhouses, you have to understand the intent of this thing and what it looks like,” Torre said. “We’re up there and we’re role models, or we should be role models for the youngsters and how they behave.”
“It’s something we’re going to look at and find the best way to approach it, let’s put it that way,” Torre said. “That’s one thing where I feel comfortable, the fact that I played and Imanaged. I have no problem talking to someone in regards to baseball, whether it’s behavior or otherwise.”
As the former manager of the New York Yankees, Torre should have no problem approaching the Red Sox.
Pickle poll
The satirical sports website sportspickle.com posted a poll Monday asking which NFL team is most likely to go 0-16 this season:
“Dolphins - Miami’s lack of fans gives the Dolphins a huge advantage as far as not feeling any pressure to win.”
“Rams - They have the kind of receivers who can come up with a big, clutch drop on a potentially game-winning drive.”
“Colts - The Colts fell short of 16-0 in recent years due to various team weaknesses, butthose weaknesses are now strengths in pursuit of 0-16 perfection.”
Squirrely business
Business is bad, so ride the trends while you can.
After a squirrel scampered across home plate during a playoff rally by the Cardinals in theNational League Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis businesses are selling “Rally Squirrel” merchandise.
T-shirts, stuffed squirrels, car decals, chocolate squirrels - the works. And the best part, the fad is free.
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the “Rally Squirrel” doesn’t violate any trademarks.
“No one can come and say, ‘This is ours,”’ said Haim Mano, a marketing professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
As long as the name “World Series” or other Major League Baseball names or logos aren’t used, it’s fair ball.
Mano said MLB could claim copyright of the footage from Game 3 and Game 4 against the Phillies where the squirrel or squirrels ran across the field.
Andy Karandzieff, who runs Crown Candy Kitchen, owns six squirrel molds and said he would sell about 10 squirrel-shaped chocolates each year around Easter. Over the past few weeks, the local shop has been selling about 40 to 50 chocolate squirrels per day.
“You can just call it the Rally Squirrel,” he said. “As long as you don’t slap the St. Louis Cardinals logo on it, it’s fine.”Quote of the day “It isn’t where you start the year, it’s where you finish.” Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson on the Razorbacks being picked to finish sixth in the SEC by media members
Sports, Pages 16 on 10/25/2011