Sheffield/MLB, Donovan's reverse

Hello once again.

OK, correct me if I'm wrong, but people get fired nowadays for saying racist things over the airwaves and in print, right? I mean, former Atlanta Brave John Rocker was raked over the coals for his comments to Sports Illustrated some years ago, and Don Imus was fired from his longtime post when he referred to the Rutgers women's basketball team as a bunch of "nappy headed ho's". OK, so with those two things in mind as the framework or the standard by which we view things in a hyper-sensitive world, why hasn't anybody called for Detroit Tigers DH Gary Sheffield's head recently? You all remember him. He's played with seven teams in his major league career, he's linked to being a training partner with Barry Bonds when all of the steroid questions came about. This is a guy that also said he was the best player on every team he's been on. OK, let me stop that train right here. Robin Yount, Paul Molitor, Tony Gwynn. Those are three of the players he's played with before, and believe me, he's not even in the discussion when it comes to those guys. OK, back to my original gripe here. Sheffield said in a recent interview with GQ magazine that he has a theory why there are fewer black players in baseball today. He said, and I quote" I called it years ago. You'll see black faces, but there ain't no English coming out. It's about being able to tell the Latin players what to do, being able to control them". He went on to say "You can't control us" and "These are things my race demands". Again, stop right there. Imus gets fired for saying something off-color, but Sheffield walks away from this incident? Now, granted, it would be hard to fire a professional baseball player, but nobody seems to mind that Sheffield said any of this. Now, I'm not going to sit here and say I haven't noticed the decline of black players from baseball. I have, along with everyone else. But, with the way baseball markets itself in comparison to basketball and football, it's no wonder kids today aren't tuning in. And, with the continued rise of corporate America, it's hard to find a decent baseball field for kids to play on. They've all been bought up all in the name of property development. Baseball used to rely on the fact that it was a father-son game. And for a while, that was true. But, somewhere along the way, those sons grew up, and started getting into football and basketball, not to mention Mixed Martial Arts. The NFL had constantly adjusted its marketing program to fit in with most, if not all, of their fan base. The NBA latched on to Michael Jordan in 1984, and they continue to ride the wave of marketing success from his era. Both of these sports know what it takes to bring in new business. Baseball, however, does not. Now, don't get me wrong. Baseball knows how to make a buck. Just look at any park today, and try to find an empty spot on an outfield wall. Even Wrigley Field sold ad space on the ivy-covered wall. But football and basketball have adjusted to meet the demands of a newer generation, and baseball has stood firm. As such, baseball is paying for it with a lack of participants. Don't believe me? Look at a top college anywhere in the country, and take their top 20 athletes. Chances are, only one or two of them will be a baseball player. Baseball needs new blood in its leadership ranks to re-energize its product, or it will continue to languish behind football and basketball. But, what do you expect when you have a used car salesman for a commissioner?


To Orlando, where former Florida Gator coach, soon-to-be-renamed Florida Gator coach Billy Donovan had reportedly backed out of a deal to coach the Orlando Magic. He was all smiles at his news conference Friday. He said all the right things. But, on a subsequent return trip to Gainesville, he had second thoughts. I saw this coming a mile away. I even called a friend and asked, during the news conference, why Donovan would ever consider leaving Gainesville? He's won two national titles, he is in a position to tell the players what to do, and how to do it, and he'll never have to pay for a meal in the city. Don't believe me? Go to Gainesville, watch Coach Donovan walk in to an eatery, and watch how many people fight to pick up his check. But, Donovan looked to be all set to give the NBA a try. Now, a few names come to mind here, like Jerry Tarkanian, Rick Pitino (OK, he did well at New York, but he stunk in Boston), PJ Carlesimo, John Calipari, Lon Kruger (former Gator coach before Donovan), Mike Mongtomery, and Tim Floyd. All were successful college coaches. All stunk in the NBA when they learned one thing right away: The inmates run the asylum that is the NBA. You think a pro team is going to side with a coach over a top tier player? Think again. NBA coaches have no real authority. If they did, Rasheed Wallace wouldn't have an NBA job. Donovan was all set to inherit a decent roster, with Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson to build around. They are also going to have some money under the cap to use in free agency. Apparently, it's not enough to lure Donovan away from Gainesville. Now, I know what you're thinking. You're saying right now "Well, Pat, he signed a contract. He's bound to the Magic, right?" No. At this level of athletics, contracts don't mean much, as far as coaches go. They're allowed to come and go as they please. The conventional theory is that Donovan wanted away from a football school. Let's face it, we're talking about a team that won it all, and they only sold out two games last season. The football team drew over 45,000 for spring practice. Not a game, not Tennessee coming to town, not Florida State, not Georgia, but a practice. Some say Donovan wanted out of the football program's shadow. Good luck with that. But, when you get right down to it, I have the real reason Donovan wants to remain in Gainesville. It's Mrs. Donovan. Look, don't tell me it's a money thing. When you're making 3.5 million, plus endorsement deals and a radio/TV show contract, what's another 2 million, really? Besides, Donovan has no idea what his checkbook looks like. He's a coach, not a financial guy. All that stuff is being handled by the wife. Want proof? Go find Florida football coach Urban Meyer, and ask him how much is in his checking account. He'll have no idea, because that's the wife's job. Donovan is the same way. He's a 12-16 hour a day coach who couldn't care less what's in the account. All he's thinking about is a gameplan for the next opponent. Had he truly committed to the NBA job, all he'd have to do is go to Orlando, smile for the cameras, maybe do a Disney parade, and go to work. Mrs. Donovan would be in charge of planning the move, picking a new house in Orlando, setting the kids up in new schools, etc., and so forth. She didn't want to do it, and I don't blame her. Moving day is a pain, and at one time or another, we've all been there. So, at the end of the day, take a look at this issue for what it really is: Coach Donovan was fired up to go, Mrs. Donovan hit the brakes. And I, for one, applaud her for doing so. I kind of like Donovan, though I detest the Gators, and I would have hated to see Donovan go to the NBA and get shredded like other college coaches have done.


Before I close, and staying on the NBA, what's really going through their minds? I mean, they have a great Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals, where LeBron James finally gets to the championship round, and they have everyone fired up about that game. But then, the news comes that the Finals won't start for another five days, and even then, it won't tip-onn till 9 o'clock Eastern. Not good enough, NBA. I might have tuned in had the Finals started soon after that Game 6, but now, who knows? Maybe the Braves will be on TV. Maybe NFL Live will be on, and it's drawing ratings so good right now, ESPN is showing it two times a day. Or, maybe I'll just go play some golf. Strike while the iron is hot, NBA. You'll keep more of an audience.


Till next time.....


Patrick