In brief: Ripken record turns 15

Baseball: On the 15th anniversary of the day Cal Ripken Jr. tied Lou Gehrig’s major league mark for consecutive games played, the Iron Man returned to Camden Yards to celebrate the occasion.

Ripken threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Baltimore Orioles faced the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday. He received a standing ovation as he fired a strike to backup catcher Jake Fox.

Had the event been held today, Ripken might have felt obligated to take a lap around the field – just as he did when he broke the seemingly unreachable record by playing in his 2,131st successive game.

Perhaps it’s fortunate the Orioles left town Sunday, because the 50-year-old Ripken wanted no part in duplicating that memorable sweep around the stadium.

“Nah, you can’t recreate that moment that happened,” he said. “I was embarrassed to take that lap that night. I’d be extra embarrassed to it even now.”

Ripken played in 2,632 straight games.

“It’s remarkable. That won’t be broken. No one will even get close,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. “It’s a fascinating streak. It stands for so many things – more than just a number.”

Associated Press

Bolt has eyes on pro soccer

Track: Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt says he’ll attempt to play professional soccer once he brings his track and field career to an end.

The world and Olympic 100- and 200-meter champion believes he has four years left in track and field, and in that time wants to lower his world record in the 100 to 9.4 seconds.

Bolt then intends to try his luck in soccer for two years.

The 24-year-old Bolt told BBC Radio on Sunday that “I always watch those guys and I think I could be a professional footballer. I’ll try that – maybe I could get into a good side or even an average side.”

Bolt says he would be a “defensive or attacking midfielder.”

Associated Press

Sandberg strikes out in geography

Baseball: Most observers were flabbergasted when the Iowa Cubs’ Ryne Sandberg was voted Pacific Coast League manager of the year, because:

• Sandberg had never managed in Triple-A ball before.

• Des Moines, Iowa is 1,500 miles from the Pacific Coast.

Seattle Times