From tidbits to tales
In most newspaper sports sections, there can be found a form of “sports briefs” — tidbits that, for whatever reason, don’t merit their own stories.
Yet these briefs still carry some weight, as many times they foreshadow important events to come. A recent version in the Orlando Sentinel gives an example of how one day’s tidbits might become another day’s headlines.
Tidbit: The Toronto Blue Jays sign former Florida Marlins pitcher A.J. Burnett to a reported five-year, $55 million contract.
Tale of the tidbit: Toronto is obviously going to make a run at a playoff berth, its first since 1993. That means the Blue Jays have to get past Boston and the New York Yankees. The team first signed closer B.J. Ryan to a big contract, and now they have added a pitcher considered to be the top catch of the free-agent market, despite mediocre numbers (12-12, 3.44 ERA) in 2005.
Tidbit: Boxing promoter Don King has sued International Boxing Federation champion Chris Byrd.
Tale of the tidbit: Let’s face it — there’s probably a million reasons not to side with King on anything, given his questionable reputation. But what he is trying to do is stage a tournament to unify the four major heavyweight boxing titles, something that actually might promote interest in the moribund heavyweight division. Standing against this is Byrd, who reportedly refused to take part.
Tidbit: NASCAR officials were “extremely disappointed” in the drivers who did not show up at its awards show. The drivers included Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Tale of the tidbit: Gordon, who finished 11th in the season standings and got a $1 million bonus because of it, was in Paris to compete in a Race of Champions event. The tidbit did not say why Earnhardt did not attend, but the irony was that he was to receive the award for being voted the most popular driver of NASCAR for a third consecutive season. If NASCAR was really disappointed, it could just suspend them for the 2006 Daytona 500. That would certainly send a message.
Tidbit: In the newspaper’s “The Last Word,” the Sentinel stated: “The San Antonio Marlins and San Antonio Saints? It could happen.”
Tale of the tidbit: Let the record show that this is what happens if you have a solid team (the NBA’s Spurs) that wins more than one championship (three in seven years) and generates strong fan support. Your town gets sexier for team owners in other sports, in this case baseball and the NFL. Like the other tidbits, this bears watching.