Baseball Salary Quiz: [This one is a little different because I
don’t have access to all my record books. One single answer to
each.] 1) Who was the highest paid player in the N.L. in each of
1992-1994? 2) Who was the highest paid player in the A.L. in
each of 1997-2000? 3) Who was the highest paid player in the
N.L. in each of 1999-2002? Answers below.
Danica Patrick won! Da-ni-ca!!! Da-ni-ca!!!
Yes, in her 50th IndyCar start, the 26-year-old won the Japan 300
in Motegi, Japan, thanks to better fuel strategy as it turned out.
She thus becomes the first female winner in IndyCar history.
Her timing couldn’t be better as we approach the Indy 500 and
watch those endorsements pile up even further. It’s great for the
sport.
But wait…there’s more! Lorena Ochoa won her 4th consecutive
LPGA event in four weeks. Ochoa has now won 10 of her last
15 tournaments dating back to last year.
Raymond Floyd
I was reading a column in GolfWeek from a regular feature
called “The Forecaddie” (no stated author) and see this.
“The caddie yard continues to be shaken by illness. Word
surfaced last week at Augusta National that longtime looper Pete
Bender, one of the very best in the business, has been diagnosed
with tonsil cancer.
“Bender, who was working for Aaron Baddeley and also has
caddied for Greg Norman, Ian Baker-Finch and Rocco Mediate,
was at home in California last week preparing to begin radiation
and chemotherapy treatments….
“Bender is the most recent caddie to fall on hard times. Greg
Rita underwent surgery late last year to remove a brain tumor
and recently was denied financial assistance from a special
caddie fund because he still has assets of his own.
“A bit of good news, however. The Man Out Front learned that
Raymond Floyd cut Rita a $50,000 check to help defray the cost
of his medical expenses. It’s worth nothing that Rita never
worked a day for Floyd.
“ ‘It’s the community,’ Floyd told The Man Out Front. ‘Golf is a
pretty close-knit group. When one has a problem, I feel that it’s
our responsibility to take care of each other. Even if the caddie
fund might have (offered him assistance), I would have done it.
It’s a tough situation, and when you have the wherewithal to help
someone, I think it’s important.”
It goes without saying that Raymond Floyd is now a candidate
for our “Good Guy Award.” We toast you, Mr. Floyd.
And now….exit a true jerk…Isiah Thomas
Mike Lupica / New York Daily News
“Donnie Walsh got rid of Isiah Thomas, the worst management
figure in Knicks history and one of the worst in New York sports
history, as Knicks coach Friday. But at the same time, Walsh
decided to keep him around in the organization. So Walsh gave
Thomas a soft place to land when the softest he deserved after
what he has done to the Knicks is the curb.
“The Knicks’ record since he arrived in New York of December
of 2003 is 141-241. One hundred games under .500. His record
as coach of the Knicks is 56-108. More than 50 games under
.500. And Donnie Walsh still believes he knows something
about Thomas that the rest of us, especially Knicks fans, don’t.
He doesn’t. Whatever Walsh is saying, whatever humanity he
thought he was showing yesterday, he did something yesterday
he obviously thought the owner of the place, Dolan, wanted him
to do.
“Here is what Walsh really ought to know about Thomas: He
keeps him around at his own risk. And lets him around Dolan at
his own risk….
“I was talking to a high-profile basketball coach the other day,
one who knows Thomas well but has never worked for him or
with him. And the guy said:
“ ‘You can have Isiah in a foxhole with you. Just don’t send him
for reinforcements. Because he’s not coming back.’….
“The last charade for (Thomas) and the last con was that he
carried himself with dignity as he was first stripped of his big job
running the Knicks before finally being stripped of his coaching
job yesterday. No, he didn’t. He surely did not. He was just
looking to protect his money, because he will never again make
anything close to it in basketball.” [Thomas is earning $11
million the next two seasons just to hang around, thanks to owner
Dolan’s outrageous $20 million contract extension last year.]
Mike Vaccaro / New York Post
“Our long, national nightmare ended for good, for real, forever,
at 5:07 pm yesterday.
“ ‘Isiah,’ Donnie Walsh said at that precise moment, ‘will no
longer coach the team.’
“That was that. And it was right around 5:08 pm that Knicks
fans everywhere can be excused if they started channeling Robert
Redford as senator-elect Bill McKay in the final scene of ‘The
Candidate.’
“ ‘What do we do now?’”
But….
“Now, the healing can begin, the redemption and resurrection of
New York’s beloved basketball franchise. The Knicks needed
this day in the worst way, needed distance from Isiah’s brutal
executive decisions and disgraceful laissez-faire (and just plain
lazy) coaching, and his sexual-harassment shenanigans.
“If the Knicks are lousy on Walsh’s watch – and they will be, for
at least a portion, you can bank on it – they will not be
humiliating to watch any more. They will no longer be
populated – and run – by the basketball equivalent of circus
freaks. It can be all about the basketball again. For better or
worse.”
In Isiah’s four full seasons as either head coach and/or running
the operation as president, the Knicks went 33-49, 23-59, 33-49,
23-59.
I also can’t help but add the following, from Bar Chat 3/2/06,
that is as descriptive of the Thomas Era as anything else.
Marc Berman / New York Post, on the horror show at Madison
Square Garden.
June 28…Knicks trade Kurt Thomas for Quentin Richardson and
Phoenix’ first-round draft pick (Nate Robinson). “Despite a
chronic disc problem, the Knicks take on the final five years and
$40.3 million of Richardson’s pact. Overall, the Knicks add
$20.6 million in payroll….”
July 15…(GM) Isiah Thomas agrees to terms with Jerome James
on a five-year, $30 million contract….James averaged 15
minutes per game for Seattle last year…. “(The 300-pound)
James reported to camp way out of shape, and it’s been a season
filled with hamstrings and hangovers for him.”
Oct. 4…Eddy Curry is part of deal with Chicago that sends
Michael Sweetney, Tim Thomas, New York’s 2006 first-round
pick and a conditional ’07 first-rounder to the Bulls. Knicks also
get Antonio Davis in transaction. Curry signs a six-year, $60
million deal. “Curry has shown an inability to get in shape. The
worst part is the Bulls might get the first overall pick in the draft,
courtesy of Isiah forgetting to protect the selection.”
Feb. 3…Knicks trade Davis for Jalen Rose and a late first-round
pick. “Rose has one more year left on his contract at $17
million. Hence, with luxury tax included, the Knicks added $34
million in expense for a marginal upgrade. The Knicks are 1-12
since the trade.”
Feb. 22… “Knicks trade Penny Hardaway’s contract and Trevor
Ariza for Steve Francis. Francis makes $13.7 million and has
three years and $49.7 million on his contract. With Hardaway’s
contract expiring, the Knicks took on almost another $50 million.
Francis does the same exact things as Stephon Marbury, so his
value to the team is vague. Plus, he’s a big-time primadonna
who already skipped out on the team once during this road trip to
get some more clothes at his home in Orlando.”
Yup, those of you not from the area may not understand why
such a focus on the Knicks and Thomas, but trust me, it was a
total nightmare.
Stuff
–I watched a little of the NBA playoffs on Saturday and no
doubt LeBron came through in a big way at crunch time. But not
for nothing, the two stars on Saturday were Tim Duncan and
Chris Paul. What school did they attend?………..WFU………
And has there ever been a player where you totally ignore regular
season stats and simply point to the postseason like in the case of
Duncan? He’s always content to take a back seat during the year,
letting the flow of the game come to him, but then in the playoffs
it’s ‘Hop on my back. I’ll take us where we want to go.’ Four
rings has been the result.
–I find it pretty amazing that the city of Seattle and its fans
couldn’t find a way to keep the SuperSonics as it’s increasingly
likely they will be moving to Oklahoma City for next year. What
a coup for O.C. Small population base, but I’m sure the fan
support will be there.
–Kind of interesting that “Max,” the alleged steroid distributor
who supplied Alex Rodriguez, according to Jose Canseco, came
forward, Joseph Dion, and that A-Rod admitted he and Dion had
a close relationship. Dion vehemently defended A-Rod in
denying Canseco’s charges, but it’s kind of like ‘doth protest too
much.’ Now, federal investigators have cause to grill all three,
as they’ve already started to do with Canseco.
Yes, I’m tired of this issue, as I’m sure you all have become, but
to complete my reporting of it I have to bring up key elements
along the way. And we still await Barry’s fate, after all.
–I told you guys like David Ortiz are really much older than
they’d lead you to believe. OK, maybe Ortiz isn’t in his 50s, as
I’ve noted this year due to his slump, but now Miguel Tejada,
alleged steroid muncher, was forced to admit he is really 33, not
31, as he has claimed all along, thanks to the investigative work
of ESPN’s Tom Farrey, who found a correct birth certificate
from Tejada’s home in the Dominican Republic.
The Houston Astros’ media guide used the birthday of May 25,
1976. The verified birth certificate, though, reads May 25, 1974.
–This is a feel good animal story, from Lara Moscrip of the New
York Post.
“NYPD Harbor and Scuba cops patrolling the East River outside
the United Nations for the pope’s visit yesterday rescued an
ailing beaver who was barely afloat – and might not have had a
prayer without them.
“Cops rushed the weak and dehydrated 35-pound female rodent
to Animal General, where she was given antibiotics and fluids by
staffers who nicknamed her ‘Denny.’
“ ‘We’re really happy. Things are looking up for Denny,’ said
Karen Heidgerd, administrator of the West Side veterinary
hospital.
“The rescued rodent will be transferred to an upstate animal
sanctuary today. The unexpected aquatic discovery came around
12:30 pm after Pope Benedict XVI had left the UN.”
“We saw a dark foreign object in the water,” said Lt. John
Harkins, commanding officer of NYPD Scuba. “We thought it
could be something suspicious because the pope was addressing
the General Assembly.”
Actually, it’s more than a bit unusual to find a beaver in those
parts, and it’s possible Denny (by the way, if it’s a ‘she,’
shouldn’t it be Denni?) was simply looking to get an invite to the
pope’s dinner later that evening. The Post reported that dinner
was served up at his East 72nd Street residence by PBS chef Lidia
Bastianich and a team of chefs from her three city restaurants,
Del Posto, Becco and Felidia. It being Friday and all, it was
striped bass and seasonal veggies. And, yes, federal agents did
test the food first.
–And then there is this one. Researchers at the University of
Bristol have discovered that birds “stand sentry” to help other
members of their group forage for food, and sing a special song
to give warning of danger, as reported by Mark Henderson of the
London Times.
The research was on the pied babblers, a social species from the
Kalahari Desert of southern Africa that lives in groups of about
seven.
“While the pied babbler community forages for food, such as
small snakes and scorpions dug up from the desert, one of them
stands guard in a tree.
“This sentinel goes hungry as it watches for predators, allowing
its group members to concentrate on feeding. To let other
babblers know that it is on guard, the sentry sings a ‘watchman’s
song,’ and makes alarm calls if a predator is spotted.”
Their predators include goshawks, mongooses, Cape cobras and
puff adders.
“While the watchman is singing, foraging individuals spread out
and spend more time searching for food than looking out for
danger. This allows them a wider range of hunting ground.”
The researchers also used a recording and “The birds did not
even look up to ensure that they were being watched.”
All members perform sentry duty, incidentally.
The Times adds that when it comes to intelligence among birds,
you have the case of vultures in Zimbabwe who have been seen
sitting by minefields, waiting for gazelles to wander into them.
“The plan backfired when a vulture landed on a mine.”
And you have the case of crows in Japan who crack nuts by
dropping them into the path of oncoming cars at pedestrian
crossings. When the light turns red, the birds swoop to eat.
–Alas, not all animals are good, that’s for sure. Take the case of
a band of 25 Barbary apes in Gibraltar. They moved into a
popular beach-side area and have been terrorizing tourists,
stealing food and entering rooms through open windows. So the
territory’s tourism minister is going to kill them. The other 175
Barbary apes inhabit the high ground of Gibraltar and generally
stay out of trouble. It goes without saying that they have the
death penalty in Gibraltar.
–In the category of “I Hate When That Happens,” add the tale of
Russian Yuri Lyalin, 53, who “took a bus home, ate breakfast
and apparently slept like a baby before his spouse noticed a
handle sticking out of his back.”
Lyalin was rushed to a hospital and survived. It seems he had
been drinking with a watchman at his workplace when they got
into an argument. But as reported by BBC News:
“The morning found him waking up in the watchman’s office but
instead of going back to work, he decided to take the bus home.
“At home, Mr. Lyalin had some sausage from the fridge and lay
down to sleep,” reported a newspaper.
His wife noticed the handle sticking out after a couple of hours.
The watchman turned himself in and Lyalin bears no ill-will.
“We were drinking and what doesn’t happen when you’re
drunk?” he was reported as saying.
Goodness gracious. Now that’s an idiot.
–As bizarre as some stories are, occasionally you get one that
just doesn’t surprise you because of who is involved. Such is the
case with CNN reporter Richard Quest, the Brit, who was busted
in Central Park early Friday morning “with some drugs in his
pocket, a rope around his neck that was tied to his genitals, and a
sex toy in his boot, law enforcement sources said.”
Quest was arrested at 3:40 am, after police spotted him with
another man around 64th Street. [The park is closed from 1:00
am to 6:00 am] The drugs were methamphetamine. Quest
wasn’t arrested for lewdness because he wasn’t exposing
himself. His attorney said Quest didn’t know there was a curfew
and was simply returning to his hotel with friends.
–Just a look back at The Masters. John Hawkins commented in
his piece for Golf World.
“Good strategy is now conservative strategy at a place where all
hell used to break loose on a regular basis….
“After years of dealing with disadvantages one could trace to his
lack of supreme power, a top-tier control player such as Jim
Furyk might figure to factor, but even he speaks in somewhat
jaded tones. ‘It’s a pretty good test of golf,’ Furyk said. ‘I mean,
it used to be a lot of fun to play. It’s not fun anymore, but it
definitely got a lot more difficult.’ Addressing the notion that
people don’t hoot and holler over solid pars, Furyk added, ‘I
don’t think we have [heard roars] for the last few years…It’s
their event, a different golf course, and there’s a different way to
approach it now.’”
Take the par-5 15th. There were only 19 eagles there all week.
In 1997, the year Tiger Woods annihilated everyone, there were
15 in the second round alone.
The Masters can’t take another dullsville finish next year. I
know I won’t be as excited going into it.
–Maybe they should add some Burmese pythons to the course at
Augusta, actually, like in the pine straw. I was reading a piece in
the Washington Post on the problem with invasive species and as
I’ve written before, the Florida Everglades is increasingly
overrun with pythons, many of which reach 15 feet or more in
length.
There is a new theory, though, as to how the python population
exploded. As Joel Aschenbach writes, speculation has turned to
Hurricane Andrew, which by obliterating thousands of homes
may have “played a factor in a wholesale python jailbreak in
1992” as pets obtained their freedom.
–So I bet as you drive around, dodging road kill, you probably
never had the thought, “I wonder what percentage are
amphibians?”
Well a group of Purdue University researchers took it upon
themselves to figure this one out and on an 11-mile stretch of
suburban road outside the main campus, nearly 95% of road kill
happened to be frogs and other amphibians. And this wasn’t a
small sampling. Biologists took in over 10,000 samples…at least
those not squashed beyond recognition. Among mammals, they
only found four white-tailed deer over a 17-month period, plus
43 raccoons and 79 opossums.
You’re probably thinking, why the heck would they even look
into this? It’s actually because of findings such as the one that
142 eastern tiger salamanders were among the dead. This is an
endangered species and the research, conducted along a
wetlands, shows that roads need to be routed around such areas,
and/or tunnels underneath so animals have a better chance of
survival.
–Golfer Boo Weekley now has two career PGA titles, both at
Harbour Town, as he won his second straight Heritage tourney.
–Oh, to be Tampa Bay Rays rookie Evan Longoria (no relation
to Eva). The 22-year-old third baseman with immense potential
(and Hollywood looks, girls) was just called up from the minors
and yet signed a $17.5 million, six-year contract that with
options could exceed $44 million over nine seasons. Tampa Bay
had purposely held him off the major league roster opening day
because by doing so they could delay the year he became eligible
for free agency to 2014 from 2013, but then they locked him up
anyway.
For his part, Longoria clearly has a good head on his shoulders.
“First of all, I like being here. It’s an enjoyable place to live and
play….For me, the security of a long-term contract and knowing
that now I’m pretty much set for life, it’s just very assuring to
me.”
Good for him. And it’s great for Tampa Bay fans.
–For those of you who vacation in Mexico, you might be
interested to know that Giants quarterback Eli Manning got
married this weekend to longtime fiancée Abby McGrew at the
One & Only Palmilla resort, Los Cabos, where rooms run as much
as $2,600 a night.
–We note the passing of E Street band member Danny Federici,
who died of melanoma at the age of 58. As noted by the Star-
Ledger’s Jay Lustig:
“When Bruce Springsteen made his induction speech as a new
member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999, he
acknowledged every member of his E Street Band individually
with a few warm, well-chosen words. He described Federici as
‘the most instinctive and natural musician I ever met,’ and told
him, ‘Your organ and accordion playing brought the boardwalks
of Central and South Jersey alive in my music.’”
Federici, who grew up in Flemington, N.J., played with
Springsteen for 40 years. He made his last appearance with the
band in Indianapolis in March.
Top three songs for the week of 4/19/75: #1 “Philadelphia
Freedom” (The Elton John Band) #2 “(Hey Won’t You Play)
Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song” (B.J.
Thomas) #3 “Lovin’ You” (Minnie Riperton…chirp chirp…
tweet tweet……………..chirp chirp……………chirp…chirp)
…and…#4 “No No Song” (Ringo Starr) #5 “He Don’t Love
You (Like I Love You)” (Tony Orlando & Dawn) #6
“Supernatural Thing – Part I” (Ben E. King) #7 “Chevy Van”
(Sammy Johns) #8 “What Am I Gonna Do With You” (Barry
White) #9 “Emma” (White Chocolate) #10 “Before The Next
Teardrop Falls” (Freddy Fender)
Baseball Quiz Answers: 1) The Mets’ Bobby Bonilla, a bust,
earned $6.1 million to $6.3 million from 1992-1994, leading the
N.L. 2) Albert Belle earned $10.0 million to $12.8 million for
his two years with the White Sox and then two with Baltimore,
1997-2000. At least Belle had some strong seasons during that
time. 3) The oft-injured Kevin Brown earned $10.7 million to
$15.7 million for the Dodgers during 1999-2002.
Next Bar Chat, Thursday.
**TV alert….Monday, PBS’ “American Experience” is on
Roberto Clemente.
