What Is Going On Here?

     In the space of about one week, the sports world has seen the start of NFL Training Camps (yawn); the induction of this year's class of the Baseball Hall of Fame; the retirement of a New York Jets' great; the end to a busy MLB trading deadline; chaos in the Bronx; an unforgettable meltdown by a Nats' pitcher; an Urban crisis in a major Ohio city; another couple of not-too-nice problems at Rutgers; a World Series (and that is not referring to the Yankees and Red Sox tangling in Fenway Park); and the finalization of a challenge match between a Lion and a Tiger.  With the Tour de France finishing in anonymity. And this is without counting a story or two about LeBron James while the NBA is in its off season.

     Six stars and the legendary announcer Bob Costas headlined the inductees in Cooperstown last weekend. The leader of the pack is a former overall number one draft choice by the Atlanta Braves, where Larry Wayne Jones, Jr. tore through baseball as Chipper. The switch-hitting Jones was a first ballot Hall member, as he compiled a .303 batting average, 2,726 base hits, 549 doubles, 468 home runs and 1,623 R.B.I. in his illustrious career. A force at third base for the Braves, he is the only pitch-hitter to have batted at least .300 and slugged 400 or more homers. His Atlanta teams were among those which won 14 straight division titles and 1 World Series. Individually, Chipper was an 8 time All Star, won an N.L. M.V.P. award, led the N.L. in hitting in 2008 and twice won the N.L. Silver Slugger award for third basemen.

     Two Tigers entered the Hall. Jack Morris was a dominant pitcher in his prime, yet he needed the help of the Veterans' Committee to gain entry into the HOF. A five time All Star, Morris was a part of 4 World Series championship teams in Detroit, Minnesota and Toronto. He has the highest E.R.A. of any pitcher in the Hall at 3.90, yet he started the most games, pitched the most innings and had the most wins (162) for any pitcher in the 1980's.

     His fellow enshrinee from Detroit and also chosen by the Veterans' Committee was the Tigers' shortstop, Alan Trammell. A second round draft choice in 1976 (Morris was a fifth rounder in the same draft), Trammell and Morris reached Detroit for the first time on the same day. Trammell became a fixture at short from 1977-96. His stats aren't gaudy but exemplify a fine fielder--Trammell ranks 6th in fielding for shortstops who played over 2,000 games and he has 4 Gold Gloves to show for it. A steady player, he batted .285 and was the 1984 World Series M.V.P.

     Vladimir Guerrero entered the Hall as the first Angel, much to the disappointment of the throngs of Montreal Expos' fans who still made it to Cooperstown to watch his speech. A 9 time All Star and 1984 M.V.P., he hit .318 lifetime, with 13 of his 16 seasons above .300. A free swinger, Guerrero struck out only 985 times during his illustrious career with the first 8 in Montreal followed by 6 in Anaheim before finishing his career with steps in Texas and Baltimore. Guerrero had a strong arm, resulting in 126 assists to go with 125 errors.

     Trevor Hoffman began his career in the minors with Cincinnati as an infielder. In 18 years with San Diego, he saved 601 games, placing him second to Mariano Rivera. Hoffman's career E.R.A. was sparkling 2.87. In 1089.1 innings, Hoffman struck out 1,133 batters.

     Finally, there is the strong man, Jim Thome. A first ballot selection, he played 22 seasons as a first baseman, third baseman and as a designated hitter. Thome smashed 612 homers and drove in 1,699 runners. He hit a record 13 walk-off homers and hit 40 or more homers 6 times, plus added 17 more in the postseason.

     A fine class indeed. Upcoming in the next two years are two Yankees who will cause Cooperstown to overflow. In 2019, Rivera is a lock for the HOF. Then in 2020, it is time to enshrine Derek Jeter. Indeed, those will be precious times for New York fans.

     One more side note of sour grapes--again, I don't understand why Tommy John isn't in the Hall of Fame. He was the guinea pig for the lifeline which so many pitchers undergone to have return to the major leagues and resume their fine careers. I dare say that a pitcher who gets into the Hall after having the surgery that bears this great pitcher's name should give Tommy John and Dr. Robert Kerlan all of the credit during that speech.

     While on baseball, the Yankees are in a funk. Their pitching is in disarray--even newly acquired J.A. Happ is on the DL--with hand, foot and mouth disease, something the Mets' Noah Syndergaard also recently had. New York is having trouble driving in men who are in scoring position. They miss the big bats of Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez--Giancarlo Stanton, rookie Miguel Andujar and Didi Gregorius are keeping the team afloat. Since the team beat up on Boston in early July, they are 14-12, while Boston has steamed away from them, with Red Sox hitting and pitching like a special team. I hope that the Yankees can hang on to the top Wild Card spot, as Oakland is charging fast towards them.

     Then there is the Shawn Kelley incident in D.C. The Nats' were pounding the hapless Mets in a game where the final score was 25-4. Kelley was pitching and surrendered a home run in the 9th inning to Austin Jackson. Kelley slammed his glove to the ground, which drew the considerable ire of the Nationals manager Dave Martinez. GM Mike Rizzo was so appalled with Kelley's selfishness and unprofessional behavior that Kelley was designated for assignment. Maybe this was an overreaction on both sides, but there is probably more to the story than we know. It will be interesting to see if Kelley lands an MLB job after this.

     Meanwhile, the Nationals seem to have finally come alive. Bryce Harper is actually playing like the superstar he is. The Phillies and Braves are no lock in the N.L. East.

     Potentially the best series this weekend is the under the radar one taking place at Dodger Stadium between the Houston Astros and the Dodgers. The two teams met in last year's World Series, a 7 game event. What was MLB thinking--scheduling that series on the same weekend when the Yankees and Red Sox renew hostilities at Fenway Park?

     I was glad to see that Manny Machado ended up in Los Angeles as a Dodger. That team is a lot stronger now with Machado and could emerge as the N.L. representative in the World Series. I was also happy that the Yankees made some deals to strengthen the team and that the Cubs did so too. Still, the prize acquisition was youthful pitcher Chris Archer going to Pittsburgh from Tampa Bay. The Pirates and Cardinals are making a concerted push towards to the top of the N.L. Central, giving the Cubs and Brewers a run for the division title as well as for a Wild Card spot.

     There is the first Bluegrass World Series in Louisville, Kentucky this weekend. There are a number of former major leaguers including Chipper Jones and manager Johnny Bench facing various competition. It seems like it is a fun enterprise even if it means very little. That Rick Ankiel, a former pitcher turned outfield because of control issues is pitching well does not mean that he is ready for a comeback at age 39...

     At cornerback for the New York Jets, number 24, Darrelle Revis. In 2009, he was targeted 111 ties, allowing 41 receptions and he defended 23 passes, 7 more than any other player that season. His 2009 numbers are considered to be the best among any cornerback in NFL history; he held 9 of the NFL's top receivers under 35 yards in a game in 2009. A seven time Pro Bowl CB with only 29 interceptions, his true value was exemplified in 2009-11 when QB's threw only 253 times in his direction and they successfully competed passes only 38.7 times. It earned his style of play the moniker "Revis Island" because he could be counted on to defend passes better than anyone. So, in 5 years, this Jet who also played in New England, will be in Canton as a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

     Rutgers has stirred up controversy...again. They hired a men's assistant lacrosse coach who had been suspended at the Air Force Academy as the result of a hazing issue. Former AD Julie Hermann, who was fired, was paid over $500,000 in severance/hush money not to sue the school. An assistant swimming coach who was fired due to body shaming comments she allegedly directed at a number of her charges, she is suing the school over her discriminatory firing. Football began pre-season practices with the cloud of 8 suspensions and an ongoing investigation into credit card fraud by members of Coach Chis Ash's team. Business as usual at RU--what a mess. When will they EVER get it right?

     A bigger mess is what is transpiring at Ohio State. Legendary football coach Urban Meyer is embroiled in controversy over whether he had knowledge of an assistant coach's abusive behavior towards his ex-wife. Supposedly Meyer's wife knew directly from the victim about the domestic violence.

     The question was whether Urban Meyer knew and his failure to act responsibly and notify officials at Ohio State constituted a breach of his contractual responsibilities. Forget the morality involved. Meyer is on paid leave pending an investigation. It is unresolved whether a coach like Meyer, a National Championship leader, will survive this turmoil. The climate is zero tolerance right now in college sports--the Paterno/Penn State scenario started this resolve--and no school wants to be in the midst of questions like this; Tennessee would not hire Greg Schiano because, while he was at Penn State, he was aware of the situation and he did nothing. And as I mentioned last week, Michigan State fired a ton of administrators in the wake of the horrific events there.

     Plus, naming the court for Roy Williams at the Dean E. Smith Center on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill rewards Williams for winning, which apparently is primary in the eyes of the alumni and the administrators. To me, I find it to be hypocrisy. Didn't Carolina have an academic scandal recently, involving basketball players, while Williams went unscathed?

     Coaches are role models. They are also highly paid at the bigger schools in the revenue sports. Coaches cheat, players are less than savory but warrant a scholarship due to athletic prowess. Until there is greater oversight and a sudden recollection of what place morals have in our society, these transgressions will continue. Isn't it time for an overhaul of college athletics now before the damage is irreversible?

     There is this $10 million winner-take-all match between Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson in November, appropriately in Las Vegas. Which will generate a lot of interest. It will gather some steam if either can actually win a tournament.

     Surprise. Lebron James is in the news. For allegedly being in a night club in LA with Kevin Durant and both superstars interceding in a fight between Durant's teammate, Draymond Green, and James' former Cleveland mate, Tristan Thompson. During the recent NBA Finals, they had very heated exchanges. Green refused to shake hands with Thompson at the end of the series, or was it vice versa? Evidently the bad blood never settled--at least on Thompson's part. He attacked Green and then James and Durant separated the two. What all four were doing in the night club was another thing. But at least no further damage was done.

     What James did in Akron this week was the right thing. He opened an academy in partnership with the Akron Public Schools. The school is named the I Promise School, an elementary school dedicated to students in the area who come from difficult circumstances. He opened it down the street from his hometown high school, to give those children structure and to let them know that people care about them. There is a focus on accelerated learning; it makes available job placement assistance for parents; is designed to remove economic stress form the students; there is an on-site food bank; a bicycle is given to each student to escape dangerous parts of town and to explore; and guarantees free college tuition to the University of Akron to all graduates starting in 2021.

     You might not like James as a player. He may act selfishly on the court in his desire to win. That is who he is. But this is exemplary. And that also is who LeBron James is.

     So that is some of the morass of sports from this week. It is a microcosm of our world right now. What will happen next to test our resolve? Even the Margate Hurricanes, 21 time Atlantic County Baseball League champs, led by my F&M teammate Yogi Hiltner, were unceremoniously  eliminated from the ACBL playoffs by the Northfield Cardinals.

     By the way, Gearing Thomas, a 32 year old double Olympian Welshman, won the Tour de France. He dominated the race by leading from Stage 11 to the end.

     There is something mysterious afoot here in the sports world, which may or may not derive from collusion or meddling. It is not fake news. It is the new reality.