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Bar Chat

05/26/2014

America

Baseball Quiz: The New York Times’ Tyler Kepner had a blurb discussing Detroit’s Victor Martinez and his 12 home runs vs. just 13 strikeouts, which were he to improve just a bit would be quite a feat, more home runs than strikeouts, with a minimum of 20 homers. This used to be fairly common, but since Ted Kluszewski and Yogi Berra did it in 1956, only two have accomplished the feat. Name the two. Answer below.

Memorial Day

I’ve saved this bit for today...from the May 12, 2014 issue of Army Times, as reported by Adam Ashton.

“In her last moments of life, Army nurse Capt. Jennifer Moreno heard two orders.

“One was a call to help a wounded soldier struck by a blast in a booby-trapped killing field at a bomb-making compound in Afghanistan. The other was a command to stay put lest she strike another mine in the bomb belt.

“The nurse from Madigan Army Medical Center at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., chose to help the wounded soldier, and gave her life trying. In the words of her commander, Moreno ran ‘into hell’ to rescue a comrade on the night she was killed.

“Newly released narratives of the Oct. 5 battle reveal the kind of hell Moreno and dozens of Army special operators found while trying to disrupt a plot to kill civilians in the city of Kandahar.

“A total of 12 bombs exploded that night – a chain reaction that took the lives of four soldiers and wounded at least 25.

“The fifth bomb killed Moreno, 25, of San Diego, who volunteered to support special operators in combat....

“Moreno ‘sacrificed her life so others could live,’ her bronze Star with ‘V’ commendation reads. Her award commendation sheds light on that chaotic day, and on the heroic steps taken to honor the Soldiers Creed: ‘I will never leave a fallen comrade.’...

“Moreno died with Sgt. Patrick Hawkins and Spc. Cody Patterson of the Georgia-based 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment and special agent Sgt. Joseph Peters of a military police unit based in Italy....

“Cpl. Samuel Crockett, who survived that bloody day, received a Silver Star for risking his life in a two-hour rescue. He played a key role in recovering Moreno’s body...and in providing life-saving medical aid to a wounded soldier.

“He set off the 12th and final bomb, but it did not injure him.

“The battle began as the soldiers approached the compound in Kandahar’s Zhari district and called out for its occupants to surrender. None of the insurgents inside were taken alive.

“The first to die was an Afghan woman walking out of the compound wearing a suicide vest. She detonated the explosive, killing herself, wounding six troops and setting off a second blast.

“Two soldiers rushing to help troops wounded in the first blast hit the third bomb. A second enemy fighter died in those early blasts, too.

“An Afghan insurgent who ran away from the building detonated the fourth explosive, another suicide vest. The bomb killed him and a military working dog named Jani.

“Moreno heard a call from a staff sergeant to help a wounded soldier. At the same time, the battle’s ground commander told all of the soldiers to stay where they were.

“ ‘Disregarding her own well-being, Moreno unhesitatingly moved to assist (the soldiers) upon realizing the severity of the wounds sustained by her fellow teammates,’ reads her Bronze Star narrative. ‘While in transit, Moreno detonated Device No. 5 and was killed in action.’

“ ‘None of us would have done what you did, running into hell to save your wounded brothers, knowing full well you probably wouldn’t make it back,’ the commander of Moreno’s female Special Operations support team, Capt. Amanda King, wrote in a eulogy.

“ ‘Follow me,’ Hawkins told Patterson as they made their move to reach the wounded. Patterson stepped on a mine, the sixth detonation. He stumbled and hit the seventh. Both soldiers were fatally wounded.

“Peters, the military police officer, set off explosions No. 8 and No. 9 after working to clear a helicopter landing zone for medical evacuations.”

Cpl. Crockett arrived with a 20-soldier force to clear the area of mines and rescue the wounded.

“Three soldiers from Crockett’s unit tried to retrieve Moreno’s body from the field, but struck the 11th explosive.

“Crockett ran to them, halting at the edge of his cleared path. He saw his platoon sergeant injured but standing. Crockett guided him back to safe ground.

“With no clear path to his two wounded teammates, Crockett got down to the ground and swept the earth for mines with his hands.

“He reached a private first class who lost his right leg to the bomb. Crockett applied a tourniquet and ‘single-handedly dragged him to an area where medics could safely render treatment.’

“There was one more injured teammate left to recover from the 11th explosion. Crockett set off the final blast as he stepped to the wounded sergeant.

“Crockett got as close as he could to the fallen nurse, attached a drag line to her and pulled her to the safe area.

“Finally, they got out of hell. They did not leave one of their own behind.”

Captain Moreno’s being awarded the Bronze Star elicited various reaction in Army Times. Some said she deserved the Medal of Honor. Others say she disobeyed an order that got herself killed and ended up wounding three others who had to recover her remains.

Auto Racing’s Big Sunday

The other day, Lars Anderson had the following in a story for Sports Illustrated:

“Since Dale Earnhardt’s fatal accident on the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500, there have been no fatalities in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup series, none in Formula One and only three in IndyCar (Tony Renna in ’03, Paul Dana in ’06 and Dan Wheldon in ’11). That racing at the highest levels is no longer a death wish – in the 13 years before Earnhardt died, there were 12 driver fatalities in NASCAR Cup racing, F1 and IndyCar combined – is largely attributable to numerous safety innovations: energy-dissipating soft walls called SAFER Barriers, carbon-fiber seats, head-and-neck restraints known as HANS devices and crushable materials in the body of the car.”

But Anderson’s piece was also about Memorial Day weekend 2013, which turned out to be the deadliest 36 hours on dirt tracks in recent history...three deaths.

Thankfully, there were no casualties in the Big Three races Sunday.

Nico Rosberg won the Monaco Grand Prix for a second straight year to take the overall championship lead from teammate Lewis Hamilton, who came in second, thus giving Mercedes its fifth straight 1-2 finish. It was Rosberg’s fifth win of his career. 

And then you had an incredibly exciting Indy 500, with Ryan Hunter-Reay winning for the first time over 3-time winner Helio Castroneves as they dueled down the stretch. It was the perfect event for promoting racing in America.

But one of the side stories was NASCAR’s Kurt Busch, who finished a super sixth in his first Indy attempt and then flew down to Charlotte to participate in the Coca-Cola 600, where he then finished 40th, engine issues. Jimmie Johnson won the race.

Stanley Cup

So entering Thursday’s Rangers-Canadiens contest at the Garden, New York was up 2-0 and appeared ready to sweep with Montreal goaltender Carey Price out for the duration and New York having won the first two by a combined 10-3 score.

But the Rangers fell behind 2-1 in Game 3, tied it late in the third to send it into OT, and then Montreal won it early in sudden death, 3-2.

Early in the contest, though, Montreal forward Brandon Prust unleashed a vicious hit on the Rangers’ Derek Stepan that resulted in a broken jaw, yet no penalty at the time was assessed, which was outrageous.

The NHL does, however, review plays like this afterwards and Prust was suspended, yet only for two games! The Rangers are furious. Prust would be eligible for Game 6 at MSG if there was one.

Rangers forward Daniel Carcillo was not as lucky, receiving an automatic suspension of 10 games as a result of being assessed a game misconduct for elbowing a linesman.

But Sunday, the Rangers prevailed in overtime with Martin St. Louis scoring the game-winner, 3-2, to give New York a 3-1 series lead as it heads back to Montreal.

Meanwhile, in the Los Angeles Kings-Chicago Blackhawks series, the Kings took a 2-1 series lead with a 4-3 victory Saturday in L.A., as they ride the hot play of center Jeff Carter, who has seven points the last two games.

NBA Playoffs

In Game 2, San Antonio kicked OKC’s butt, 112-77, with Danny Green scoring all 21 of his points on 7 of 10 from downtown, while Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook had just 30 points, combined, on 13 of 40 from the field. The Spurs also were 21-23 from the free throw line.

“Even with (big man Serge) Ibaka, the Thunder isn’t as formidable as it once was. There’s no other way to put this: The James Harden trade has been a disaster.

“Before the 2012-13 season, the Thunder sent Harden, the NBA’s sixth man of the year the preceding season, to the Houston Rockets in exchange for Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb, a 2013 first-round pick, a 2014 first-round pick and a 2013 second-round pick. The Thunder had already signed Durant, Westbrook and Ibaka to massive multiyear contracts. Thunder ownership, which had luxury tax concerns, declined to reward Harden with the maximum contract he wanted. The sides failed to reach an agreement, resulting in Harden’s departure.

“As expected, the fast-rising Harden immediately became a superstar in Houston....

“After only one season, Martin left Oklahoma City in free agency. This season, Lamb fell out of the rotation in early April. In the playoffs, Lamb has played little.

“Rookie 7-footer Steven Adams, chosen with the first first-rounder acquired in the Harden deal, is contributing (and) looks like a keeper. But you don’t trade a game-changer like Harden, who could fall out of bed and score 30, for an energetic big guy who sets screens well.”

And as Jason Reid points out, as good as Thunder GM Sam Presti is, “It appears Presti made a key strategic error in locking up Ibaka before Harden.”

And looking ahead, Kevin Durant is an unrestricted free agent after the 2015-16 season. Unless Presti can surround him with more talent in the next two years, Durant will walk because he, as much as anyone in the game, wants to be a winner.

Michael Rosenberg had the following take on the Spurs in Sports Illustrated:

“Alas, in the age of hard salary caps, superpowers may seem like a dying breed. Let’s hope not. We need them more than ever. With 30 or so teams in each league, most fan bases must accept that their season is likely to end without a title. But they can still be emotionally invested if they have somebody to root against.

“This has been the problem with the best NBA franchise of the last 15 years, San Antonio: People say the Spurs are unlikable, but the real issue is that they are unhateable. They are a small-market team with quiet, fundamentally sound players; the closest they come to controversy is when coach Gregg Popovich says nothing to sideline reporters.”

But on Sunday, Ibaka returned for the Thunder, scored 15 points, had 7 rebounds and 4 blocks and OKC won 106-97. Series now 2-1, Spurs.

--I watched a fair amount of the Heat-Pacers game on Saturday night, Miami prevailing 99-87 in Game 3 to take a 2-1 series lead. Miami trailed 37-22, but it was 77-50 the rest of the way, with Ray Allen getting all 16 of his points in the second half, 13 in the fourth as he was 4 of 5 from three down the stretch.

--Donald Sterling appeared to signal on Friday that he was empowering his wife, Rochelle (Shelly), to negotiate a sale of the Clippers, but this is far from over. It is not known as yet, for example, if Shelly wants to retain a minority stake as she has expressed before, which could be a major sticking point.

But it was surprising that Sterling sent word, through an associate, he was thinking of taking this route. He still hasn’t paid the $2.5 million fine he was assessed by Commissioner Adam Silver and he had been threatening legal action prior to this new move. But it seems he might realize he has no chance of winning in court.

A June 3 hearing with the league’s other owners is still on, at which point Sterling could answer charges, 3/4s of whom then need to vote to force a sale. Support for such a move is not in question.

The NBA would also have to approve any transfer of power from Sterling to his wife, at least temporarily, if she was then allowed to be the one to find the buyer.

For her part, Shelly could still file for divorce, which would delay a sale under California law because the couple’s assets would have to be divided first.

As for Mark Cuban’s comments on race and racial profiling, I did not disagree with them, nor am I going to comment further, except to say, yes, there are times he needs to shut up.

“So what does that leave the Nets with? Incredibly overpaid Deron Williams (who probably needs more ankle surgery), Joe Johnson (who did show he’s a star in the league) and the oft-injured Brook Lopez.”

“Brooklyn Nets guard Deron Williams will have surgery next week on both ankles.”

As Ronald Reagan would have said... ‘Not bad, not bad at all.’

--Kevin Ollie signed a five-year contract extension to stay at UConn at a reported $2.8 million a year. He was paid $1.25 million last season in leading the Huskies to their fourth national title since 1999. So the Lakers job isn’t in the cards.

Ball Bits...recapping some items since last chat...

--The White Sox’ Chris Sales was out awhile with an injury, but the terrific hurler returned to strikeout 10 in six innings of one-hit ball against the Yankees Thursday night. Sale moved to 4-0, 1.89, in five starts.

And then on Friday night, my man, Adam Dunn, crushed an 0-2 pitch from Yankee closer David Robertson over the right-center wall for a two-run, walk-off homer as the ChiSox prevailed 6-5.

--Former White Sox hurler Mark Buehrle is off to a super 8-1, 2.16 start for Toronto after defeating Boston on Thursday, 7-2, to go to 194-143, 3.81 lifetime. I know I’ve mentioned this before, but his consistency over his career has been amazing; 13 straight seasons with 200 innings. And he doesn’t walk; the last ten seasons, 40 to 52 each year...again, amazing consistency.

--I can’t help but note that since my last chat, Detroit’s Max Scherzer had his bubble burst, at least temporarily, when he gave up 7 earned in 7 innings, while the Cubbies’ Jeff Samardzija pitched in incredible hard luck again. Samardzija threw seven shutout innings against the Yankees on Wednesday, but then Chicago blew a 2-0 lead in the ninth and Samardzija remained at 0-4, though his ERA is a stupendous 1.46.

“It makes absolutely no sense for the Cubs to keep him any longer.

“They either have to sign him or trade him, and since there are no contract talks, and his value continues to soar, now is the time to move him.

“Why wait until the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline?

“Samardzija’s value has never been higher, so what good does two more months make?

--It was good to see Clayton Kershaw bounce back after one of the worst efforts of his career in his prior start. Kershaw pitched six scoreless in a 2-0 Dodger win over the Phillies, striking out nine. I’m worried about this guy. You know my deal. I want the superstars to all come through. Only makes the game better and I was concerned Kershaw wasn’t back from his earlier injury.

--But speaking of the Dodgers, Matt Kemp was benched on Friday after manager Don Mattingly expressed concern over the former star’s defense. He certainly didn’t look good in center when I saw him against the Mets.

Actually, I just saw USA TODAY’s Bob Nightengale and this on Kemp:

“National League scouts say Kemp...has regressed so badly he is now the worst defensive center fielder in the league.”

“The A’s are amazing. They lost two of their best starters for the year (Jarrod Parker and A.J. Griffin) without throwing a pitch. They do not have a single position player – not one – who has taken even one at-bat this year who ever has played in an All-Star Game. And they led the A.L. in blown saves despite investing significantly – for them – in the offseason to add Jim Johnson and Luke Gregerson.

“Yet, Oakland went into Memorial Day weekend with the best record in the majors.

[Ed. they lost 2 since this comment, now 4 in a row, to drop to 30-20, but still very much deserving of praise.]

“It is no fluke historically, since the A’s have the majors’ best record (220-152) since the beginning of the 2012 season. Or currently, since it is not like Oakland is just using all that foul territory in its home park (not to mention the backed-up sewage) to cushion its record. The A’s have the best road record in the majors.

“They are deep and versatile, maximizing the various skills of their roster. For example, the most productive catcher in the sport is Oakland’s two-headed platoon of Derek Norris and John Jaso.

“And orchestrating this from the dugout is Bob Melvin, the runner-up to Terry Collins when Sandy Alderson picked his first manager.”

--Prince Fielder is having season-ending fusion surgery this week to repair a herniated disk in his neck. Fielder, 30, had been acquired by Texas in the big trade with Detroit that sent Ian Kinsler to the Tigers.

The thing is Fielder had played in 547 consecutive games – and 162 games in four of the last five seasons heading into 2014 – but he was hitting just .247 with 16 RBIs before this.

While every team can complain about injuries this season, Fielder is the 14th Rangers player to go on the disabled list. [According to USA TODAY, twice as many as any team in baseball. They’ve already used a major-league high 39 players as of Thursday.]

GM Jon Daniels conceded Fielder didn’t have a physical before the offseason trade, but said: “In this case, a cervical MRI, at least for us, has not been part of our standard physical. A guy that had no history and no documentation, no treatment and no issues that anyone was aware of, had we done a physical, we wouldn’t have done a cervical MRI.”

Fielder signed a massive, nine-year, $214 million contract before the 2012 season and the Rangers (after Detroit picked up $30 million) will be shelling out $24 million per through 2020! At the time, many of us thought this contract was nuts, regardless of how durable Fielder seemed to be. But for the sake of the sport, I hope he comes back strong in 2015.

Raissman, like the rest of us following the New York Mets, is waiting for one of their excellent broadcasting team – Gary Cohen, Keith Hernandez, Ron Darling or Bob Ojeda – to totally blow their stack on air.

“As the incredible shrinking product disintegrates between the lines and becomes unwatchable, the Mets will be left with only a baseball circus to sell.

“Mets brass should thank Matt Harvey for demanding to remain with the team during his rehabilitation from Tommy John surgery. His recent proclamation about a premature return to the mound will keep his big mouth in play the rest of the season.

“Terry Collins must continue keeping everyone guessing whether Juan Lagares will be in the lineup. Collins’ mysterious maneuverings not only guarantee him a first-class seat in the clown car but also something for Valley of the Stupid Gasbags to yap about.

“Sandy Alderson? With his condescending shtick, he’s a dependable opening act. A lot like his predecessor Omar (Laugh Track) Minaya. Alderson may be having problems cleaning up the apparent ‘mess’ His O-Ness created, but he’s one funny dude.

“Don’t forget the Big Top, err, Citi Field. What would this show of shows be without the constant bitching and moaning about its dimensions? We need even more spews about moving the fences in and more ‘revealing’ statistics comparing how the Mets hit at home and on the road.”

And so we wait...Darling, Hernandez and Ojeda have come close to wigging out. It’s coming. All three of them were with winners in their careers. To have to watch this pathetic franchise every day and try to be positive on air can take a lot out of you, when you’re expected to be a team player.

--Kind of shocking that Dodgers minor-league shortstop Alex Guerrero could miss five weeks after requiring plastic surgery on his ear following the bite from teammate Miguel Olivo, but it obviously gives you a sense of how serious it was.

Olivo was suspended by the Dodgers for an indeterminate period. I would be shocked if he ever played in the big leagues again. The guy has a proven track record of being a flat-out bad guy.

--The Red Sox lost their 10th in a row on Sunday to Tampa Bay, 8-5. It’s their worst streak since at least 2001, as I go to post.

--Former Red Sox hurler Josh Beckett, however, twirled his first no-hitter on Sunday against the Phillies, 6-0, Beckett now being a Dodger. He struck out six and walked three.

--I can’t believe the Cubs hired Manny Ramirez to be a player-coach for their AAA franchise in Des Moines. Theo Epstein, former GM of the Red Sox and now president of baseball operations for the Cubs, said Ramirez has learned from his mistakes (multiple suspensions for violating the league’s steroid policy), but he’s a terrific influence with the younger players.

Give me an f’n break. This dirtball should be banned for life from the game.

--Detroit’s Justin Verlander got shelled by Texas 12-4 on Sunday to move to 5-4 with a 4.04 ERA. It wouldn’t be a story except it’s Justin Verlander. Detroit, once 27-12, has now lost 6 of 7.

--The Giants played the Twins in an interleague series this weekend. That just sounds cool.

--Mike Hessman became the sixth player to hit 400 career home runs in the minor leagues last week. Hector Espino leads with 484.

The 36-year-old Hessman is playing for Detroit’s Toledo AAA club and should get another cup of coffee with them in September. In five previous cups with the Tigers, Braves and Mets, he has 14 big league homers in 223 at-bats.

--College Baseball Poll 5/19...CWS coming up!

1. Oregon State
2. Louisiana-Lafayette
3. Virginia...Deacs beat them the other day
4. Cal Poly
5. Florida State
6. South Carolina
7. Louisville
T-8. LSU
T-8. Oklahoma State
10. Vanderbilt

Real Madrid 4 Atletico Madrid 1

What an entertaining Champions League final in Lisbon on Saturday. I watched the entire contest as for the first time, teams from the same city played for the top prize in European club soccer. Real Madrid was gunning for “la decimal,” a record 10th trophy, while Atletico was hoping to win its first.

To set the stage further, Real Madrid had a budget of about $705 million, more than four times the money spent by Atletico.

Heck, as reported beforehand by Raphael Minder of the New York Times, “Real Madrid’s shirt sponsorship deal is one of the world’s richest,” but, “in 2012, Atletico spent a season unable to find a main sponsor – until it reached a deal with the republic of Azerbaijan, whose ‘Land of Fire’ slogan is printed on the players’ shirts.” [Very cool, by the way.]

Yes, you had a Real Madrid team that had spent a fortune on the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, but it was 1-0 Atletico the first 90 minutes after Real Madrid captain Iker Casillas, the goalkeeper, misread a ball back into the box and was unable to swat away Diego Godin’s header before it crossed the line. Casillas was going to go down in Real history as a goat of historical proportions.

But five minutes of stoppage time was declared at the end of the second half and Real’s Sergio Ramos tied it 3 minutes in, and then in extra time, Gareth Bale of Wales, who had three golden opportunities earlier, had a spectacular header to make it 2-1 and Real went on to score two more times, including the last one by Ronaldo on a penalty kick.

So Atletico came within two minutes of wrapping up an improbable run. How improbable? Before the season started last August, the odds of Atletico winning the Champions League were put at 6,500 to 1. [Emmanuel S., I looked all over to confirm what I heard on television and couldn’t find it. If this is inaccurate, let me know, though my own research had it at way over 1,000-1.]

[One other note...I give play-by-play man Gus Johnson a lot of grief, but he did a solid job with the final, limiting his enthusiasm to the proper moments.]

--U.S. soccer manager Juergen Klinsmann announced the final 23-man World Cup roster and 32-year-old Landon Donovan was left off the team, a shock to some, but not as much to those who have seen him play recently.

But this means the leading U.S. goal scorer in international competition, as well as a veteran with five World Cup goals, will remain in the States and not travel to Brazil.

NFL Notes

--50 Democratic Senators wrote letters to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell urging him and the league to endorse a name change for the Washington Redskins.

Redskins executive Bruce Allen in turn sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), one of the signees, with Allen saying in part:

“The Washington Redskins are one of the NFL’s flagship franchises. We have played in 11 NFL Championship games and have won five World Championships. With over 81 years of tradition created by thousands of alumni and millions of fans, the Redskins team name continues to carry a deep and purposeful meaning.”

Allen wrote that the team name “originated as a Native American expression of solidarity” and its logo “was designed by Native Americans.” He then cited polling data that shows an “overwhelming majority of Native Americans do not find the name offensive” and that the “vast majority of Americans are in favor of keeping the team name.”

Earlier, the senators in one of the letters sent to Goodell, said: “The NFL can no longer ignore this and perpetuate the use of this name as anything but what it is: a racial slur. We urge the NFL to formally support and push for a name change for the Washington football team.”

The league said in a written statement: “The NFL has long demonstrated a commitment to progressive leadership on issues of diversity and inclusion, both on and off the field. The intent of the team’s name has always been to present a strong, positive and respectful image. The name is not used by the team or the NFL in any other context, though we respect those that view it differently.”

Members of the Oneida Indian Nation and the National Congress of American Indians applauded the senators’ letter: “The name of Washington’s NFL team is widely recognized as a racial slur. The NFL is a global brand, but if it wants to contribute to the positive image of the United States across the world, rather than callously promoting discrimination against Native Americans, then it must stop promoting this slur and finally change the name.”

I will not quote Ray Halbritter’s response, he being CEO of Oneida Nation Enterprises, because he is a charlatan. But....

“I’ve written of Ray Halbritter on more than one occasion as it pertains to the Washington Redskins nickname debate, and most recently passed on information that he was not even a member of the Oneida Indian Nation. That last bit I don’t know for sure.

“But over the weekend, Theresa Vargas and Annys Shin of the Washington Post had a piece raising questions about Halbritter’s behavior, some saying he’s a billionaire who amassed his fortune as an opportunist, specifically through his ownership of the Turning Stone Resort Casino, 30 miles east of Syracuse. The Oneida Nation owns the resort, but Halbritter is the chief executive of an operation that takes in $200 million to $400 million a year, though it does not publicly share its financials.

“The 900 members of the tribe also largely don’t share in the largesse, according to many of them who told the Post they only receive stipends of $16,000 a year, if Halbritter approves them.

“Halbritter said he’s never stripped an Oneida of his or her membership, and that the tribe’s books are open to members, but one of his cousins said Halbritter “ordered the tribe’s police to shackler her in front of her 6-year-old and take her to a federal holding facility in Pennsylvania – all because she wouldn’t let them inspect her home (a trailer). By the time her trailer was demolished, 13 other families had lost their homes and had staged a ‘March for Democracy.’”

“There have been similar episodes and allegations about unfair financial practices, such as an $18 million contract being steered to a shell corporation controlled by Ray Halbritter’s brother.

“Meanwhile, the Oneidas have spent tens of thousands of dollars on their ‘Change the Mascot’ campaign, while to other tribal leaders around the country he is viewed as a hero. He also recently appeared at the White House and met with President Obama.”

I maintain a change in the name to “Red Clouds” is a no-brainer. He was a noble leader and it would require minimal changes on the marketing end.

--Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice was always seen as a good guy, not a particularly smart one, but a solid citizen.

That all changed last February at a casino in Atlantic City when he was caught on video knocking his fiancé unconscious.

So on Friday, Rice went before the press for the first time since the incident. It was billed as a “press conference” but he took no questions; rather Rice rambled for ten minutes with his now-wife, Janay Palmer, sitting uncomfortably by his side.

“Sometimes, you will fail. But I won’t call myself a failure. A failure is not getting knocked down, it’s not getting up.”

“But ‘knocked down’ is exactly what Rice did to his wife Feb. 15 at Revel Casino in an ugly incident caught on security cameras. Rice, 27, also was taped dragging his unconscious wife out of an elevator....

“Rice apologized to the team, his fans and ‘the kids’ – conspicuously leaving out his wife – before touting the value of the counseling he has received since the incident.

“ ‘Though we know that no relationship is perfect, me and Janay want the world to see what counseling has done for us,’ Rice said, who added that he and his wife have become ‘better parents...better lovers and also better friends throughout the situation.’”

Oh brother. The Ravens and/or the NFL could still suspend Rice for violating the league’s conduct policy, but prosecutors allowed him to enter a pre-trial intervention program that could lead to the assault charge being dismissed if he completes the one-year arrangement.

--On a lighter note, Stu Woo of the Wall Street Journal had a piece on how the Jets recruit free agents and the whole wine-and-dine process.

The Jets signed right tackle Breno Giacomini from the Seattle Seahawks and aside from the terms of his contract and his comfort with the team, Giacomini said, “It’s all about business at the end of the day.”

“Still, he said, ‘it’s good to get to know the coaches in case you do sign.’ Giacomini...said the Jets’ two offensive-line coaches, Mike Devlin and Ron Heller, and another staffer took him to a bring-your-own-booze Italian restaurant in Morristown, N.J.

“There, they asked the right tackle what he wanted to wash his chicken parmesan down with. He said a six-pack of Bud Light.

“He and his dining companions talked about their families and hunting as Giacomini easily drained the half-dozen bottles. ‘It was my first time meeting the coaches, so I didn’t want to ask for a 30-rack right away,’ he said.”

Golf Balls

--Great action on Sunday as Adam Scott, who just learned he was No. 1 in the world, proceeded to back it up, and then some, by winning the Colonial in Fort Worth, Hogan’s event. For Scott it was his 11th PGA Tour triumph, a third-hole sudden-death victory over Jason Dufner. Scott, by the way, has also made 34 straight cuts, the longest active streak on Tour.

--And Colin Montgomerie won his first tour event on U.S. soil in taking the Senior PGA Championship by four shots over 64-year-old Tom Watson, who missed shooting his age by one, firing a final round 65.

Bernhard Langer finished a disappointing third, for him, but I decided he would be a great Secretary-General of NATO. Just sayin’. I totally respect the man.

--I mentioned in that other column I do this week that with the release of Dick’s Sporting Goods’ earnings, well off expectations, that the company blamed falling golf sales in part.

And in a piece for the Financial Times’ Lex column, I saw that according to the National Golf Foundation, “a net 643 golf courses have closed since 2006,” while “spending on golf equipment - $1.9 billion in 2013 – is down a fifth since 2007, according to Golf Datatech.”

Actually, Dick’s reported that equipment volumes only fell 2% over a year ago levels, but prices fell 16%. Consumers are buying an old $99 driver rather than the new space-age $299 model.

“Were Jameis Winston a fourth-string punter rather than a first-string quarterback, he almost certainly would have long since been kicked off the Florida State football team, probably for good.

“Instead, the Heisman Trophy-winning problem child is being protected by his university and athletics department for the worst reason possible. He is being coddled because of what he can do for them. He brought the school the Heisman and a national title last year, and who knows what goodies he can tack on this coming season. The school’s leaders are unabashedly using him, hoping he stays one step ahead of the law long enough to win them more games this coming season.

“Sounds harsh? You bet it does. But we all know it’s true. How else do we explain a university almost completely abdicating its duties under the law involving the handling of a sexual assault case, much less the care and education of a young man who just turned 20 in January?

“If we’ve learned anything over the past six months in the ugly Winston saga in Tallahassee, it’s that nothing – not an allegation of sexual assault, not failing to appear when you’re expected to testify, not stealing crab legs from the local Publix – will stand between the so-called leaders of Florida State and their unending love of their winning football program.”

--Ruth Ziolkowski died. She was 87. Ruth’s late husband had the dream of carving a massive likeness of warrior Crazy Horse into the Black Hills in South Dakota and she was responsible for carrying on the dream.

It was back in 1948 that sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski began carving, at a site your editor has been to in one of my many trips to my favorite part of the country.

It all started when then Lakota Chief Henry Standing Bear wrote a letter to Ziolkowski, referring to nearby Mount Rushmore, saying, “We would like the white man to know the red men have great heroes also.”

Ziolkowski had helped Gutzon Borglum at Mount Rushmore in 1939.

Crazy Horse was a good subject, the warrior having helped lead the 1876 attack against Gen. George Custer at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Crazy Horse was killed the following year in Nebraska.

But Ziolkowski died in 1982 and it was Ruth who picked up the cause. His last words were supposedly: “Crazy Horse must be finished. You must work on the mountain – but slowly, so you do it right.”

It was dedicated in 1998, though the carving will take years more, probably decades. Harsh winters don’t help.

There is a nice welcome center at the site, and a very good Native American museum, along with a restaurant and gift shop, and it’s through these ventures that funds are raised to continue the cause.

The family has followed Korczak Ziolkowski’s admonition to refuse government help. Bless them.

--Shout out to “Little Louie,” a new addition to the Bar Chat family, via Johnny and Ellen Mac. Talkin’ Yorkshire terrier mix. Dogs tend to be the most loyal of my followers, especially when it comes to “Week in Review.” They ignore the politics.

--A story in the June 2014 issue of The Atlantic asked various music experts, “What is the most influential song of all time?”

Clive Davis said, “We Shall Overcome.” “Whether fighting for civil rights in South Africa or in Ireland or in the U.S., can any song be more inspiring?”

Rodney Crowell, singer/Songwriter: “Without Elvis Presley’s version of ‘Heartbreak Hotel,’ chances are Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Iggy Pop, Van Morrison, Joe Cocker, Freddie Mercury, Eric Burdon, Eric Clapton and Tom Waits – to name but a few – might have settled for a more sanitized version of rock and roll.” Interesting take.

Top 3 songs for the week 5/27/72: #1 “Oh Girl” (Chi-Lites) #2 “I’ll Take You There” (The Staple Singers...ughh) #3 “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” (Roberta Flack...think the flick “Play Misty For Me”...one of the more underrated films of all time...and it has nothing to do with the fact I am a huge Clint Eastwood fan...)... and...#4 “Look What You Done For Me” (Al Green) #5 “The Candy Man” (Sammy Davis Jr. with the Mike Curb Congregation) #6 “Morning Has Broken” (Cat Stevens) #7 “Tumbling Dice” (The Rolling Stones) #8 “I Gotcha” (Joe Tex) #9 “Sylvia’s Mother” (Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show) #10 “Hot Rod Lincoln” (Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen)

Baseball Quiz Answer: The only two since 1956 to have more home runs than strikeouts, minimum 20 homers, were George Brett in 1980 (24 homers, 22 strikeouts...the season he hit .390), and Barry Bonds in 2004 (45 HR – 41 SO, Bonds hitting .362 that year).

Joe DiMaggio did it a record seven times, including one year that stands out, 1941, when he had 30 home runs and struck out just 13 times in 541 ABs. Yogi Berra had five such seasons and Kluszewski had four, 1953-56.

No Bar Chat this week. Next one, Monday, June 2.

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