Blog

Friday night’s NASCAR Hall of Fame induction ceremony for the Class of 2017 was a wonderful event, as it is every year. The Class of 2017 included Richard Childress, Rick Hendrick, Mark Martin, Raymond Parks and Benny Parsons, a great mix of owners and drivers.  Now comes the hard part: When we get to Daytona for Speedweeks next month, the 22-person NASCAR Hall of Fame nominating committee will…

Log In Don’t have an account? Sign up here »

Matt Ryan was coming off a down year, and at age 31, the questions started to swirl. Perhaps the former No. 3 overall pick’s best football was behind him. Perhaps he wasn’t the man to get the Atlanta Falcons over the hump and back into Super Bowl contention. Ryan heard that talk, and he spent the offseason recalibrating the way he approached the game. He changed the way he ate…

Log In Don’t have an account? Sign up here »

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Yordano Ventura died Sunday at the age of 25 after a car accident in his native Dominican Republic, the team confirmed.  Ventura went 11-12 in the 2016 season and posted a 4.45 ERA. He was a member of the Royals’ 2015 World Series-winning team. Andy Marte #28 of the Arizona Diamondbacks makes a play on a bouncing ball during the fifth inning against the Pittsburgh…

Royals right-hander Yordano Ventura and former big league infielder Andy Marte were killed in separate car crashes in the Dominican Republic on Sunday. Ventura was only 25. Marte was 33. Major League Baseball paid tribute to both Ventura and Marte on Twitter after news of their deaths broke: Soon thereafter, former teammates and players around the league took to Twitter and paid tribute to Ventura and Marte. Royals infielder Christian…

Baseball’s Hall of Fame could easily fix steroids-era dilemma By Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle January 21, 2017 Updated: January 21, 2017 4:18pm ‘); } You’re sick of all the debating and whining over baseball’s Hall of Fame inductees and snubees, right? Hang with me for one parting thought, so we can clear up this mess and move on to more important issues, like whether bat-flipping should be a misdemeanor…

12:33 PM ET Facebook Twitter Facebook Messenger Pinterest Email comment An annual tradition for the column: William Weinbaum’s notes from the Baseball Writers’ dinner in New York, where award winners pick up their hardware. On a Saturday that will be remembered for its worldwide rallies for women’s rights, the most powerful, poignant moments at the 94th annual dinner of the New York chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America…

Baseball’s Hall of Fame could easily fix steroids-era dilemma By Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle January 21, 2017 Updated: January 21, 2017 4:18pm ‘); } You’re sick of all the debating and whining over baseball’s Hall of Fame inductees and snubees, right? Hang with me for one parting thought, so we can clear up this mess and move on to more important issues, like whether bat-flipping should be a misdemeanor…

NEW DELHI (AP) — A traditional bull-taming sport banned by India’s top court was performed in parts of southern India on Sunday but tens of thousands of protesters demanded the sport be allowed to resume unhindered. The Tamil Nadu state government had signed an executive order Saturday allowing Jallikattu contests to take place Sunday. The order bypassed a 2014 directive from the Supreme Court that banned the sport on grounds…

Tito Ortiz put an exclamation point on his legendary mixed martial arts career Saturday, reminding the crowd at The Forum in Inglewood, Calif., and a national television audience of his greatness with one final victory. On his 42nd birthday, Ortiz survived an early guillotine choke attempt to submit Chael Sonnen with a rear-naked choke at 2:03 of the first round in the main event of Bellator 170. Ortiz, a member…

Clint Eastwood was daring moviegoers to “go ahead, make my day,” in his film “Dirty Harry.” Don McLean was singing about how the “halftime air was sweet perfume” in his No. 1 hit “American Pie.” And President Richard Nixon was addressing the nation on TV, revealing secret negotiations to end the Vietnam War — a deal that collapsed as the war dragged on for another three years. It was Jan….

Indianapolis Colts all-time wide receiver great Reggie Wayne, who is now an analyst for NFL Network shared his sentiment on general manager Ryan Grigson‘s recent firing–including some ‘strange’ encounters: Jan 4, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne (87) waves to the crowd after the 2014 AFC Wild Card playoff football game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports “Let…

The Angels’ pending signing of free-agent infielder Luis Valbuena is more a reflection of the uncertainty surrounding first baseman Albert Pujols than a desire to trade first baseman C.J. Cron or any other player. Valbuena’s agreement with the Angels, reportedly for two years with a club option, is pending a physical and the completion of contract language, according to a major-league source with knowledge of the deal. The Angels intend…

Baseball’s Hall of Fame could easily fix steroids-era dilemma By Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle January 21, 2017 Updated: January 21, 2017 4:18pm ‘); } You’re sick of all the debating and whining over baseball’s Hall of Fame inductees and snubees, right? Hang with me for one parting thought, so we can clear up this mess and move on to more important issues, like whether bat-flipping should be a misdemeanor…

Thomas S. Hallett Nov. 30, 1935-Jan. 19, 2017 Whether he was pitching for Riverside High School or on the mound for Syracuse University, Thomas S. Hallett was a standout throughout the 1950s. Good enough to sign with the Boston Red Sox, he would pitch seven years in the minor leagues and eventually go on to the Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame. Hallett, 81, died Thursday at his home in the Town of Tonawanda. Born in Buffalo in…

Tuesday was a mix of routine and unique honor for East Carolina baseball student assistant coach Parker Lamm. He received an award at the Wilson Hot Stove League baseball banquet 26 years after his father, Jay, was given the Clint Faris Award at the same banquet. Lamm won the Trot Nixon “Gamer” Award for the determination and grit he displayed as a senior outfielder for the Pirates last season. Here…

By John Anderson The New York Mets scout responsible for drafting players like Dwight Gooden and Daryl Strawberry and was a minor league player-coach in Wellsville died on Wednesday at age 89. Harry Minor coached the Wellsville Braves and was a player on the old PONY minor league team from 1958 to 1960. He coached eventual Baseball Hall of Fame member Phil Neikro in Wellsville…

Jose Canseco is obviously a bit nutty these days, but he is exactly right in his assessment of the hypocrisy of baseball Hall of Fame voters and how broke that system is. Make no mistake, the system is broken beyond repair. Many voters should have their votes yanked away from them because they clearly don’t quite understand what it is they are being asked to do. We don’t…

Clint Eastwood was daring moviegoers to “go ahead, make my day,” in his film “Dirty Harry.” Don McLean was singing about how the “halftime air was sweet perfume” in his No. 1 hit “American Pie.” And President Richard Nixon was addressing the nation on TV, revealing secret negotiations to end the Vietnam War — a deal that collapsed as the war dragged on for another three years. It was Jan….