Running off on the typewriter …
The Tampa Bay Rays are 12-0 after Wednesday night time’s 9-7 win over the Boston Red Sox and one win shy of tying the report for one of the best begin in Major League Baseball historical past — and nonetheless it doesn’t matter.
The Rays are one of many best-run organizations in skilled sports activities and do extra with lower than any crew in any sport, but they nonetheless have the fourth-worst attendance in all of baseball. Which is healthier than final 12 months and the 12 months earlier than once they had been third-worst in attendance although they made the playoffs in each seasons. And in case you had been questioning, the final time they made the World Series throughout a non-COVID season was 2008 once they had the fifth-worst attendance within the league.
Translation: The Tampa Bay space merely doesn’t deserve such a top quality crew. Time to demolish the concept baseball will ever work there.
Raze the Rays!
Move them to Orlando!
Short stuff: Glad to see that the Florida Gators simply restructured and renamed their NIL collective, which now has been rebranded as “Florida Victorious.” Sounds like AD Scott Stricklin, after the Jaden Rashada fiasco, mentioned sufficient is sufficient and determined to place some very sensible enterprise folks answerable for the brand new collective. After the clownish method the outdated collective dealt with the Rashada scenario, I assume you possibly can say UF’s NIL arm has gone from “Florida Uproarious” to “Florida Victorious.” … Maybe Orlando Magic crew president Jeff Weltman is bluffing to attempt to create some commerce curiosity in Jonathan Isaac, however throughout an interview earlier this week it certain seemed like Weltman plans on Isaac being again with the crew subsequent season. I like J.I., however I’ve a tough time believing the Magic pays $17.4 million subsequent 12 months for a participant who sadly simply can’t keep wholesome. …
Color me cynical, nevertheless it was introduced on Wednesday that longtime UCF rowing coach Becky Cramer has “resigned” in the midst of the season to “spend more time with my family.” Excuse me? The season solely lasts one other month. I feel her household will nonetheless be there in May. If you learn Jason Beede’s story within the Sentinel, you’ll see that there’s extra to this than UCF is letting on. … Speaking of UCF, Masters winner Jon Rahm has a connection to the Knights. His caddie Adam Hayes went to Rockledge High School and performed for the UCF golf crew within the late Nineteen Nineties. Maybe that’s why Rahm saved “charging on” and blew previous Brooks Koepka in the course of the 30-hole Masters marathon on Sunday. … By the way in which, what was extra surprising on the Masters — these pine bushes falling down or Phil Mickelson rising up? …
I noticed the place the Orlando Magic are shifting their G-League affiliate from Lakeland to Osceola County, the place they are going to play at Silver Spurs Arena. Question: Who would be the dwelling crew once they play San Antonio’s G-league affiliate? … Speaking of Osceola County, it’s exhausting to consider that one of many area’s most well-known corporations — Tupperware — could quickly exit of enterprise. I’m simply guessing, however possibly Tupperware’s monetary woes have one thing to do with a enterprise mannequin by which they promote lids that someway alter themselves and alter sizes as soon as they’ve been purchased and don’t match any of the containers in anybody’s kitchen cupboards. … Let’s give it up for UCF’s John Rhys Plumlee, who will play centerfield for the baseball crew on Friday afternoon after which play quarterback for the soccer crew on Friday night time. No phrase but on whether or not JRP will even be teaching the UCF rowing crew on Friday, elevating some cash for the NIL collective and serving to AD Terry Mohajir put the ending touches on the 2029 soccer schedule. …
FAU has given basketball coach Dusty May a 10-year contract extension after taking the Owls to the Final Four. I’m normally in opposition to giving a coach such an extended extension after one spectacular season, however on this case I’ll make an exception. If May is certainly a one-hit marvel, his one hit was higher than Hotel California, Stairway to Heaven, Hey Jude, Respect, Purple Rain, Piano Man, Satisfaction, Free Bird, Heartbreak Hotel and Johnny B Goode. … I don’t learn about you, however I like new Auburn coach Hugh Freeze’s thought of enjoying a spring sport in opposition to one other faculty within the state. “Alabama can play Troy and we play UAB or vice versa, or whoever, I don’t care. Alabama State or whoever,” Freeze mentioned earlier this week. I’d like to see UCF play Florida State or Miami play Florida in a spring sport. It can be an effective way to create curiosity, promote tickets and, sure, earn money. …
New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson has been out three months with a non-surgical hamstring harm and says he had been bodily cleared to play within the play-in event however was opting out till “I feel like Zion.” If solely all of us acquired paid hundreds of thousands of {dollars} to not go to work once we don’t really feel prefer it!!! …Tiny Quinnipiac upset mighty Minnesota to win the NCAA hockey title over the weekend and coach Rand Pecknold was so emotional that he requested ESPN reporter Colby Cohen to present him a hug in the course of the post-game TV interview. So are you aware what Cohen did? He gave Pecknold a hug, after all. It kind of jogs my memory of the final time Urban Meyer gained a nationwide title and requested a reporter for a hug. When Meyer made contact with the reporter, the reporter turned to ashes and Meyer wickedly grinned and walked away. …
Last phrase: With Friday being National Thomas Jefferson Day, a quote from our third president: “In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.”
Email me at [email protected]. Hit me up on Twitter @BianchiWrites and take heed to my Open Mike radio present each weekday from 6 to 9:30 a.m. on FM 96.9, AM 740 and HD 101.1-2
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Source: www.bostonherald.com