Cheap Seats
Fish talk
Chicago White Sox announcer Tom Paciorek, after the Angels’ Tim Salmon struck out looking at a called strike: “Salmon takes the bait.”
Some athletes are OK citizens
Stories about athletes snubbing fans who want autographs are commonplace, so it’s nice to hear one that turns out the other way.
When a group of children and young adults, in wheelchairs with a variety of disabilities, went early to Boston’s Fenway Park before a game, Red Sox first baseman Mo Vaughn met with them and signed autographs during batting practice.
Vaughn didn’t have time to sign for everybody, but later in the afternoon he sought out the group outside the team’s dressing room. Vaughn asked for a show of hands of those who didn’t get his signature, and before he left, he signed for everybody he missed the first time.
And they still win
A few of David Letterman’s reasons why the New York Yankees are getting arrogant:
Visiting teams are automatically given a six-run head start.
Most Yankees leave at the top of the eighth to beat traffic.
Coaches give most of their hand signals to the beer vendors.
New promotion: Get a Refund Plus $10,000 if the Yankees Lose Day.
Sometimes they let an American guy pitch.
Better late than never
Dusty Baker chews toothpicks while managing from the San Francisco Giants’ dugout to try to keep from using smokeless tobacco. He still uses about a can a week away from the field.
“I’m gonna quit,” he told a reporter.
When?
“While I’m still alive.”
Give that girl a contract
Film clip of the week was provided by Mariners ballgirl Rosie Santizo, who made a sprawling dive worthy of Alex Rodriguez in pursuit of a groundball down the leftfield line in the Kingdome the other night. Santizo missed the ball, which was a happy turn, given that it was a fair ball.
“The ballgirl definitely had the best dive tonight,” said left fielder Shane Monahan, who earlier that night made a great diving catch of his own. “I’ve never seen that from anyone like that. She had the wrist bands on tonight. She was ready to play.”
So that’s Clinton’s secret
From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “It’s not whether you win or lose - it’s how you place the blame.”
They say it’s true
Sammy Sosa is challenging Roger Maris’ home run record, but Skip Bayless of the Chicago Tribune remembers when the Cubs outfielder was a wild swinger.
“When he first was called up by the Texas Rangers, Sosa was best known for singling to right in a Class-A game off a pitch that bounced,” Bayless wrote.
The last word …
“I have to get up in the morning with something to do. And I don’t golf.” - Penn State coach Joe Paterno, who will be 72 in December, on why he doesn’t retire.