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Bar Chat

09/22/2014

It's Still All About the NFL

Baseball Quiz: You know whose career I really haven’t appreciated? Detroit’s Victor Martinez. I mean how many of you know that he now has five, 100-RBI seasons for his career, along with a .306 career average. But the other day he hit home run number 30 (he now has 31), and at age 35 he became the oldest player to reach that level for the first time in his career since Edgar Martinez did it age 37 for the 2000 Mariners. So who holds the mark for oldest to have their first 30-homer season at age 39? [Hint: 1978] Answer below.

Goodell’s Follies

After being absent for nine days, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell gave a press conference on Friday in an attempt to end the controversy on the rash of abysmal personal behavior in the league. Goodell outlined a new conduct committee and spoke about giving up some disciplinary powers, but then he gave no real details and failed to answer some key questions on the Ray Rice domestic-violence case, including how TMZ and not the NFL obtained the damning second video of Rice hitting his now-wife, Janay Palmer, in the elevator.

Goodell took the blame: “We have seen all too much of the NFL doing wrong. That starts with me.” And, “We will get our house in order.”

The commissioner also said he hasn’t considered resigning. Nope, he’s focused on the tasks at hand and that he has the support of ownership. Nor was the NFL close to losing a sponsor, he added.

The league failed to address reports from ESPN that the Baltimore Ravens knew a long time ago about the second video yet engaged in a campaign to get Rice a lighter sentence. Goodell reiterated that he believes no one in the league office saw the inside-the-elevator tape.

ESPN said the contents of the video was described to the Ravens’ head of security and that Ravens officials lobbied Goodell to give Rice no more than a two-game suspension, the initial punishment.

A Ravens representative said the ESPN article “contains numerous errors...and, perhaps, misunderstandings.”

Back to the new personal conduct policy Goodell is establishing, unbelievably, his goal is to finish work on an updated version, with harsher penalties, it is assumed, “by the Super Bowl”. The Super Bowl? I think a lot of us, when we heard Goodell was giving a press conference, thought he would be announcing new penalties on Friday! 

Now I understand how you probably need the consent of the NFL Players Association, as was the case with the new drug-testing regime, but how long does it take to come up with something like an automatic six- or eight-game suspension while the case is being investigated, and a lifetime ban under certain circumstances, and then just say “we need to work out the details with the NFLPA and both they and those around me have been instructed to finish their work in two weeks.”

I mean how hard is this? You’re in crisis mode, Commissioner. It’s like President Obama saying we are going to train 5,000 ‘moderate’ Syrian troops for 12-18 months in places like Saudi Arabia, while ISIS continues to roll and/or consolidate its gains.

“After nearly an hour of dutiful speechifying and deflection, it was uncertain what the commissioner was after, or accomplished. It felt that way in the ballroom of the midtown Manhattan Hilton, and judging from the blowback on social media, it felt that way on television.

“The commissioner of America’s most lucrative TV spectacle flunked the medium and the message....

“The NFL plans to sort this all out before, naturally, the Super Bowl. Priorities are priorities. Can’t let anything get in the way of Football Christmas.”

“Going into Friday’s news conference in New York, the question was whether Roger Goodell would resign. Coming out of it, the question is whether he will be fired.

“Not likely. This corporate employee served well his corporate bosses, the 32 NFL owners. They were probably thrilled with his performance. Most of the rest of the free world was appalled. The reviews ranged from disappointment to horror. If this had been a Broadway play, the theater’s doors would be closing right now....

“Goodell doesn’t get it. And if you don’t get it, you can’t communicate it....

“Certainly, what we saw from Goodell was a carefully packaged production. Think of it as a shiny Porsche with no engine under the hood....

“You almost feel sorry for him, having to be put through more corporatizing, when he is 99% there on his own.

“But when you are making $44 million a year, and you – not the lawyers or the PR people or even the owners to whom you answer – are going to be the man under the brightest lights, you need to be honest to yourself....

“We expected answers, details, specifics. We assumed we’d get them. Instead, we got committees and consultants. We got confusing double-speak, answers to questions that weren’t really answers but PR spin and avoidance....

“So the games will go on. Sadly, so will the stench.”

“Nothing short of handing in his resignation would satisfy the growing ex-Goodell faction that wants him tossed out of his spacious corner office at 345 Park Ave. But in a league whose teams will do anything to get their best players on the field and whose owners have turned money-making into an art form, there is little benefit of the doubt when the No. 1 boss screws up.

“The 1-2 combination of Rice punching out Palmer followed by the indictment of Peterson for whacking his 4-year-old son with a stick has turned into the biggest crisis in NFL history. Goodell is fighting hard to hang on.

“He has quickly become the most despised commissioner in sports.

So just hours after Commissioner Goodell addressed the public, ESPN released a new report, alleging from the moment the Ravens learned of Rice’s assault on Janay Palmer, there has been “a pattern of misinformation and misdirection employed by the Ravens and the NFL since that February night.”

ESPN’s ‘Outside the Lines’ [as reported by Don Van Natta Jr. and Kevin Van Valkenburg] said it interviewed 20 sources, including current and former league officials, as well as Ravens officials, NFL Players Association reps and associates, advisers and friends of Rice the past 11 days and ESPN found the NFL “took an uncharacteristically passive approach when it came to gathering evidence, opening itself up to widespread criticism, allegations of inconsistent approaches to player discipline and questions about whether Goodell gave Rice – the corporate face of the Baltimore franchise – a light punishment as a favor to his good friend [Ravens owner Steve] Bisciotti.”

Among ESPN’s findings was that the Ravens head of security knew details of the Atlantic City elevator assault within hours of it happening and related it to team officials.

Ravens president Dick Cass knew of the existence of the second, inside-the-elevator video in early April, but Cass didn’t ask for it.

Coach John Harbaugh wanted to cut Rice from the team after seeing the outside-the-elevator video, but was prohibited from doing so by GM Ozzie Newsome, who was backed by Bisciotti and Cass. [ESPN; Marissa Payne / Washington Post]

The Ravens dispute virtually everything ESPN has come up with. Harbaugh denies ever floating the idea of cutting Rice, as well.

“An examination of dozens of arrests of NFL players since Mr. Goodell established his personal conduct policy in 2007 – and the fines and penalties doled out by the league – shows that suspensions of two to four games, and sometimes more, were far more likely for players arrested on drunken driving, marijuana possession or weapon charges. A vast majority of players charged with domestic violence crimes, if they were disciplined by the league at all, received one-game suspensions even after pleading guilty to lesser related charges or entering pretrial intervention programs....

“In one of the higher-profile cases, Brandon Marshall, a wide receiver with the Denver Broncos at the time, was initially suspended for three games over events that included his being arrested on charges of assaulting his girlfriend. But his suspension was later reduced to one game.”

As for the other players in the news recently for all the wrong reasons, Arizona running back Jonathan Dwyer was deactivated from the team following his arrest Wednesday on charges of aggravated assault involving a female and her 18-month-old son, though the charges stem from a July incident that was just reported to Phoenix police. Dwyer was freed on $25,000 bail.

Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy agreed to go on the exempt list at least through November, when the appeal of his domestic assault case is scheduled to go before a jury.

Minnesota’s Adrian Peterson also placed his name on the exempt list. Both Peterson and Hardy, under league policy, will continue to get paid.

Panthers coach Ron Rivera said, “Greg is part of this football team, we’ve done nothing other than grant him a leave of absence.”

Minnesota butchered the Peterson case, deactivating him for last weekend’s game against New England, then reinstating him last Monday, only to reverse course Wednesday, saying Peterson would stay away from all team activities until his legal issues are resolved.

Meanwhile, the NFL and the players association reached a final agreement on a new drug policy, which allows Wes Welker of the Broncos and Josh Gordon of the Browns to return sooner. Gordon had initially received a one-year ban for repeated drug violations, but he will now sit 10 games. Welker returned this week.

“The league is set to test for human growth hormone for the first time and will use a third-party arbitrator to hear appeals of positive tests. Also, players who test positive for banned stimulants during the off-season will no longer be suspended and will instead be referred to the league’s substance abuse program.

“Players who test positive for marijuana for the first time will be referred to the substance abuse program, but subsequent violations will result in a two-game fine, a four-game fine, a four-game suspension and a one-year ban.

“The threshold for a positive marijuana test will be more than doubled.

“Players who are convicted of driving while impaired will be suspended for two games without pay for a first offense. They will be suspended for at least eight games without pay for a second offense.”

As for the PED penalties, the punishment for steroids, in-season use of stimulants, HGH or other banned substances is four games; six if there is evidence the test was manipulated.

A second violation results in a 10-game ban. A third violation is at least a two-year suspension, up from at least a year.

As for the games....

On Thursday, the Falcons destroyed the Buccaneers, 56-14, leading 35-0 before Tampa Bay even picked up a first down. Atlanta led 56-0 after three. Devin Hester had a 62-yard punt return for a touchdown, his 20th career return for a score, breaking Deion Sanders’ record. [14 punt returns, five kickoffs and one field-goal attempt taken back for TDs.]

After a shaky start, Tony Romo led the Cowboys (2-1) to a 34-31 comeback win in St. Louis against the Rams (1-2), Romo going 18/23, 217, 2-1, while DeMarcus Murray had 100 rushing on 24 carries.

Cincinnati moved to 3-0 in beating Tennessee (1-2) 33-7, quarterback Andy Dalton catching a touchdown pass from receiver Mohamed Sanu.

Andrew Luck had an outstanding day, 31/39, 370, 4-0, as the Colts (1-2) got off the schneid to win their first, 44-17, over the winless Jaguars.

Detroit (2-1) defeated Green Bay (1-2) 19-7 at home as Aaron Rodgers was pathetic, 16/27, 162, 1-0. Of course another way at looking at it is the Lions’ defense was rather solid.

The Giants (1-2) ensured they won’t start off the season as they did last year, 0-6, with a solid performance against the Texans, 30-17. Rashad Jennings ran for 176 yards on 34 carries, while Eli Manning was 21/28, 234, 2-0, and highly-paid, perhaps overrated, Victor Cruz had a 5-107-1 day at wideout.

New Orleans won its first of the season at home over Minnesota (1-2), 20-9. Teddy Bridgewater replaced injured Matt Cassel for the Vikings and was 12/20/ 150, 0-0.

Baltimore moved to 2-1, thanks to Justin Tucker’s last second 32-yard field goal in Cleveland (1-2), 23-21.

San Diego moved to 2-1 in handing the Bills (2-1) their first loss in Buffalo, 22-10.

Philadelphia is 3-0 after a 37-34 win over Washington (1-2), a game marred by a brawl. The Eagles’ Nick Foles was 27/41, 325, 3-0, with receiver Jeremy Maclin racking up 154 yards on 8 receptions. For Washington, Kirk Cousins, filling in for the injured RG3, had another great game, 30/48, 427, 3-1, but it wasn’t enough.

And what a remarkable record Russell Wilson already has...7-0 against the Big Four (Brady, Brees, Rodgers and Manning), with 14 touchdowns and just one interception (that being on Sunday). Seattle prevailed again in their rematch with Denver, 26-20, as Wilson was his usual steady self, 24/34, 258, 2-1, while Peyton Manning orchestrated a spectacular fourth quarter rally and last drive of regulation (80 yards in 41 seconds with no timeouts) to knot it at 20, but Seattle quickly sealed the deal in OT without Peyton getting a chance to work some more magic.

--Finally, former Tennessee Titans kicker Rob Bironas was killed in a single-car accident one mile from his home in Nashville, according to police. Bironas was speeding in his SUV when he went off the road, though initial reports show no evidence of drugs or alcohol at the scene.

Bironas was one of the best kickers in NFL history, connecting on 85.7 percent of his field-goal opportunities and only David Akers made more during Bironas’ nine years with the Titans, 2005 through 2013. 

Since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, Bironas ranked third making 75.2 percent of his kicks from 40 yards or longer, and he set an NFL single-game record with 8 field goals in a 2007 win over Houston, including the game-winner as time expired.

After college at Georgia Southern, he was cut by Green Bay in 2002, held numerous odd jobs, but won a spot with the Titans in 2005. He had been released by Tennessee this spring and at age 36 was looking for one more opportunity, working out earlier this week with Detroit.

Bironas was married to Rachel Bradshaw, daughter of Terry Bradshaw. 

College Football...comments written prior to release of new AP Poll.

--No. 1 Florida State went up against No. 22 Clemson on Saturday in Tallahassee, but the Seminoles played without Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston. And therein is the story.

Yes, most of you know it, but for the archives, Winston was initially suspended for the first half against Clemson for standing on a tabletop on campus on Tuesday and shouting a vulgarity involving women He was apparently mimicking a popular Internet meme.

Interim President Garnett Stokes and Athletic Director Stan Wilcox then levied the penalty on Wednesday.

Winston immediately apologized, saying, “It was a selfish act and that’s not how you do things around here....I did something, so I got to accept the consequences.”

Thursday, Seminoles coach Jimbo “Dumbo” Fisher dismissed any criticism of Winston’s original half-game suspension being too light.

“We’re in charge. It’s our team. That’s our thought,” Dumbo said. “We went with the consequences and we’re ready to move on.”

Fisher added, “That conversation, you can’t do what normal people do. There were other students doing it there, but you cannot.... He was having fun. I do not justify it.” Oh brother.

Later, in a radio interview, Fisher said he doesn’t think Winston is a “bad kid” but that he makes “bad decisions.”

Friday, with increasing national attention turning to FSU and with the NFL’s PR debacle shining a light on abuse of all kinds, the school announced Winston’s penalty would be increased.

Stokes and Wilcox said, “Based upon the results of our continuing investigation of Tuesday’s incident...we have decided to not play him for the entire game.”

Last year, of course, Winston was named in a sexual assault case involving a former Florida State student but he was never charged

Then this past spring he was caught shoplifting crab legs from a local supermarket. For this he was suspended three games from the baseball team, for which he is the closer. [And there are three other incidents at FSU, deemed minor, since he arrived in Tallahassee fall of 2012. So six total.]

So we hereby place both Winston’s and Fisher’s name in the December file for yearend recognition on a number of counts. My, the file is suddenly bulging.

As for Winston’s draft position next spring, assuming he goes out, why would you take a chance on him, especially given all the issues facing the NFL on the character front these days?

Vinny Cerrato, a former front office executive with the Redskins and 49ers, told the Washington Post’s Mark Maske: “People aren’t going to put up with it. Look at the way social media is now. That’s going to be the face of your franchise.”

Some of the players may slide out of the draft altogether. Aaron Hernandez, for example, was a first round pick who slid to the fourth round because of character questions. Greg Hardy didn’t go until the sixth round because of things that happened at Ole Miss. Now look at those two.

As for the FSU-Clemson game...for starters, Winston took the field in full uniform and pads for pregame practice, which was astounding and not exactly as Coach Fisher planned, whereupon Dumbo ordered Jameis back to the locker room to change. Winston then appeared on the sidelines wearing his jersey and street clothes with a Florida State baseball cap. The guy can’t go even a single day without looking like an immature jerk.

Of course ABC had to then show Winston every chance they had. Some suspension.

But Florida State proceeded to pull out a 23-17 win in overtime as Clemson shot itself in the foot, time and time again, starting with two badly missed field goals in regulation, critical turnovers and muffed snaps at the goal line...you name it, Clemson did it... “Clemsoning,” as it’s known...choking in big moments, which is the history of the program.

For the Seminoles, sophomore Sean Maguire filled in for Winston at quarterback and was 21/39, 305, 1-2, and just didn’t look good, but the kid was in a tough spot and a win is a win. Heisman winner Jameis returns on Monday as the starter and Florida State will resume its quest for back-to-back national championships, until Winston screws up again.

--Good piece in SI by Greg A. Bedard on No. 2 Oregon’s Marcus Mariota. In a nutshell, he has the goods to become the best dual-threat quarterback ever to come out of college, better than Robert Griffin III, Michael Vick or Vince Young. But if there is a knock on him, it’s the fact Mariota is viewed as being too nice, not a leader. This was the knock against Teddy Bridgewater, supposedly, and it’s why the Louisville star didn’t go until 32nd in the first round last spring.

Kind of funny in light of all the crap these days coming out of the NFL, and in the college game, the bad example set by Jameis Winston, that we are knocking an incredible athlete for being a model citizen and hard worker. But our society blows. You know that. Here’s hoping Mariota stays the same good, exceptional guy and eventually kicks total butt at the next level.

As for Oregon’s trip to Pullman to face Washington State, the Ducks went in 24-point favorites but instead eked out a 38-31 victory over the Cougars, thanks solely to the awesome play of Mariota, who was 21/25, 329, 5-0. The Cougars’ Connor Halliday had quite an afternoon himself at QB, 43/63, 436, 4-0, as the Pac-12 is loaded with gunslingers.

No. 3 Alabama rode quarterback Blake Sims’ 445 yards and four touchdowns to a 42-21 win over Florida. For ‘Bama, budding superstar Amari Cooper had 10 receptions for 201 yards and three scores. He’s a lock first-team All-American and top ten draft pick.

No. 4 Oklahoma beat West Virginia in Morgantown 45-33 behind running back Samaje Perine’s 242 yards and four touchdowns on 34 carries.

Paul P.’s SMU Mustangs failed to beat the spread (33 ½), going down to No. 6 Texas A&M 58-6 as the Aggies outgained SMU 663-241. But the Mustang faithful had a solid tailgate beforehand and at the end of the day, boys and girls, that’s all that matters...along with beating the spread. So SMU got it half right.

Mississippi State pulled off a stunning upset of No. 8 LSU in Baton Rouge, 34-29.

Equally stunning was Indiana’s 31-27 upset of No. 18 Missouri; the first win over a ranked opponent for the Hoosiers since 2006.

I thought the game of the week, from a competitive standpoint, would be Virginia at No. 21 BYU and the Cavaliers outgained the Cougars 519-332, but two key turnovers and a 99-yard BYU kickoff return for a score led to a 41-33 win for the home team.

Boston College racked up another 400 yards on the ground (413) in defeating Maine 40-10.

Virginia Tech has now lost two home games in a row after upsetting Ohio State in Columbus. The Hokies lost to 4-0 Georgia Tech 27-24 (after getting upset by East Carolina the week before).

Speaking of East Carolina, the Pirates hosted North Carolina and ECU shelled the Tar Heels, 70-41, as quarterback Shane Carden threw for 438 yards and four touchdowns, while the Pirates had a school-record 789 yards of total offense. It was the most points and yards ever given up by UNC. ECU is going to make for one exciting bowl team, its only loss thus far to South Carolina, 33-23.

Yikes, Michigan (2-2) lost at home to Utah, 26-10. Coach Brady Hoke is in deep trouble in Ann Arbor.

Rutgers recovered from its crushing loss to Penn State, beating Navy 31-24, though it lost star running back Paul James to a serious leg injury in the process. However, a local boy, Justin Goodwin (hailing five minutes from moi in Madison), ran for 104 yards filling in for James. More on Rutgers in a bit.

Pitt fell to 3-1 with a very disappointing home loss to Iowa, 24-20, after being up 17-7 at half. The Panthers wasted another strong effort by James Conner (155 yards on 29 carries), while super wideout Tyler Boyd had 10 catches for 153.

I wasn’t going to mention No. 13 Georgia’s 66-0 trouncing of Troy, except I can’t help but note Georgia averaged 9.4 yards per carry on the ground.

And I wasn’t going to note No. 11 Michigan State’s 73-14 win over Eastern Michigan, except it was rather startling the yardage at half was 320-1. Yes, one yard.

Duke moved to 4-0 with a 47-13 win over Tulane as freshman running back Shaun Wilson had 70 yards on just seven carries. Wilson now has 404 yards on 28 attempts. Staggering. 14.4 per carry and this is not exactly a small sample size.

In Thursday night’s 20-14 win by No. 5 Auburn at No. 20 Kansas State, Wildcats coach Bill Snyder said he believed Auburn was stealing signs, Snyder telling ESPN’s sideline reporter that at halftime. Auburn coach Gus Malzahn denied this. Florida State made the same claims against Auburn after January’s BCS National Championship Game win.

Finally, Wake Forest picked up win number 2, 24-21 over Army in Winston-Salem, with the Deacs needing 10 points in the fourth quarter to even their mark at 2-2. Getting a third win, however, is not going to be easy.

--Texas’ sophomore quarterback David Ash announced he was quitting football after multiple concussions, both last year and in the season opener vs. North Texas. Ash was solid, finishing his career with 4,728 yards and 31 touchdowns.

--I didn’t mention it in my coverage of Penn State-Rutgers last week, but some Rutgers fans acted in an inappropriate way, referring to the Jerry Sandusky scandal, though I just didn’t think it was necessary to bring up. [Some kids wore shirts that read “Ped State,” referring to the pedophile case, photos of which inadvertently found their way onto the university Facebook page.]

But this week, the situation exploded after Rutgers athletic director Julie Hermann apologized to Penn State officials for the “regrettable actions” of a few fans, only for us to find out she herself made an incredibly stupid ‘joke’ concerning Sandusky.

Following a NJ Advance Media investigation (a new outfit spun out of the Star-Ledger), it seems last fall, according to six people who were there, Hermann gave the following advice during a formal meeting on fundraising. You should be “reaching out and touching the donors” of the program, just not “in a Sandusky way.”

Said a Rutgers official in attendance, “Everyone looked at each other and said, ‘Say what?’”

Another Rutgers official told NJ Advance Media it was “a simple remark but one that resonated with us.”

“I know there were two or three of us that looked at each other, and I said, ‘You gotta be kidding going down that road,” the employee said. “Comparing relationships with donors or with people in organizations that we want to drum up and get money from in that relationship and saying we have to get close to them and touch them? And she goes ‘not like Sandusky.’”

Hermann has had a terrible first 17 months at Rutgers, though she has the support of the administration. Recall, a 2013 Star-Ledger investigation revealed that when Hermann was a volleyball coach at the Univ. of Tennessee, players accused her of bullying them. They also said she called them “whores, alcoholics and learning disabled.” Another Ledger investigation reported that a former employee sued her at the Univ. of Louisville because then-assistant athletic director Hermann fired her for getting pregnant.

April 2014: Hermann told a Rutgers journalism class it would be great if the Star-Ledger went out of business. She has also made stupid comments regarding former Rutgers running back Ray Rice and his domestic violence case.

But back to the Sandusky ‘joke,’ Steve Politi of the Star-Ledger opines:

“Ask yourself which is worse: A few fans bringing tasteless signs and shirts to a football game? Or a university official with a base salary of $450,000 making a similar crude remark in front of a room full of Rutgers employees?

“Rutgers ripped its fans on Monday and defended its AD on Friday, with not so much as an official apology or hint of contrition from anyone – including Hermann, who offered no comment whatsoever through spokesman Tom Luicci.”

So I’m glad last week I didn’t note the actions on the part of a few Rutgers fans. That wasn’t a story. Hermann is.

It’s also why I said last week I’m not a Rutgers fan. It’s been a hard school to root for for years now. There’s always something. Basketball coaches acting out of line, booting a seemingly decent AD for someone like Hermann...teams choking in big spots...you get it.

--And the New AP Poll...

1. Florida State (34 first place votes)
2. Oregon (11)
3. Alabama (7)
4. Oklahoma (4)
5. Auburn
6. Texas A&M (4)
7. Baylor
8. Notre Dame
9. Michigan State
10. Ole Miss
14. Mississippi State
23. East Carolina

How cool is it to have both Mississippi schools so highly ranked?!

Ball Bits

--Wild card races....

National League

San Francisco 84-71
Pittsburgh 84-71...team with better record gets home-field advantage for the sudden death playoff.

American League

Oakland 85-70
Kansas City 84-70
Seattle 83-72

No team has ever had the best record in baseball at the All-Star break and failed to make the playoffs in the wild-card era, but such is the potential plight of the Oakland A’s.

Back on July 31, when they acquired Jon Lester to further strengthen their starting rotation ahead of the playoffs, Oakland was 66-41. On Aug. 9 they were 72-44 and led the A.L. West by 4 games. Since then the A’s have gone 13-26, but got a big win on Sunday in extra innings.

And thank god Bud Selig instituted the sudden death “play in” game because otherwise, as the New York Daily News’ Bill Madden writes, without it this would “be a most underwhelming baseball September.”

“This is the first time in history the average length of games will exceed three hours. The 8.16 runs per game is the lowest average in a full season since the 7.99 in 1976, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The 1.73 home runs per game is the lowest mark since 1.44 in 1992 and the overall major league batting average of .251 is the lowest since 1972, when it was .244. No doubt, these two disturbing trends are front and center on Rob Manfred’s plate for when he takes over as commissioner in January.

“Unfortunately, as Manfred must know, this dual problem for baseball has been self-inflicted. You start with the schedules, which have become brutal, between the preponderance of night getaway games for the lust of the almighty TV dollar, and the expansion of interleague play to a game every day because of the realignment to two 15-team leagues. (This year, for example, the Mets made four trips to the West Coast to play all six teams there.) It’s no surprise the players, who, after night getaway games, routinely get to their hotels at 3 a.m., are exhausted. But as Manfred, baseball’s drug sheriff, knows too well, there are no longer amphetamines in the game to remedy that fatigue.

“So what does baseball do? As one high-level baseball exec said to me last week: ‘We need, as an industry, to do away with night getaway games. Period. Our TV partners won’t like it, but they’re clearly affecting players’ performances.’ That needs to include – especially – the ESPN 8 p.m. Sunday night games. Nobody likes these games, the players, managers or even the viewers, and if the owners are really serious about easing the fatigue level on their players, they need to gulp hard and give that TV money back.”

Fat chance that will happen. Madden has a great point, though. I used to watch the Sunday night games. Now I really couldn’t care less (plus they don’t end until after I’ve gone to bed!). During the summer, pre-football, I like the Saturday afternoon telecasts far more. Like the old days, for those of us of a certain age.

--So we learned why former Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington suddenly stepped down.. In his first public comments since resigning Sept. 5, Washington said he was embarrassed and at a “very low time in my life” after not being true to his wife of 42 years.

Washington made a statement at a Dallas-area hotel on Thursday and didn’t take questions, arm around his wife, Gerry.

“After 42 years, I broke that trust. I’m here to own that mistake and to apologize to her and to those who have trusted in me. I let them down.”

There had been rumors Washington had had a drug relapse, but the day he resigned, GM Jon Daniels said “Ron has given us permission to say this is not drug related.” He has vowed to come back, but Texas isn’t taking him. It’s not like they had a good year, after a run that included two World Series appearances with Washington at the helm, and GM Daniels wasn’t crying when Washington quit.

--After an 0 for 28 clump, Derek Jeter began his last homestand going 8 for 17, with four 2-hit games, to raise his average to .255, which sounds a lot better than .249.

But the big story at Yankee Stadium, Sunday, was the return of Masahiro Tanaka after a 2 ½ month absence.  Tanaka, once seemed destined for Tommy John surgery, threw 5 1/3 innings of one-run ball, no walks, to extend his record to 13-4, 2.47, and he now heads into the winter with the team, and him, breathing at least a temporary sigh of relief.

--As of about a week ago, according to PitchF/X, which tracks velocity at big-league parks, Cincinnati’s Aroldis Chapman had thrown more than 350 pitches at 100 mph or faster in 2014 – more than twice as many as the rest of the league combined, and this is a closer. His fastball is averaging more than 100 mph this season, 2 mph faster than last year. [USA TODAY]

--Clayton Kershaw became baseball’s first 20-game winner on Friday, though he went only five innings and gave up three runs in a 14-5 win over the Cubbies. Nonetheless he is 20-3 with a 1.80 ERA.

--Mark Buehrle is 197-138 lifetime...if you exclude his record against the Yankees, now an astounding 1-14, 12 straight losses, after Toronto’s 5-3 loss to New York on Friday. Buehrle is winless in 17 straight against the Yanks.

--Speaking of the Yanks, they have an interesting problem. Closer David Robertson has done everything the team could have asked for in replacing Mariano Rivera; Robertson with 38 saves in 42 opportunities, while ringing up 91 Ks in 61.1 innings.

But Robertson becomes a free agent this fall and the Yanks appear to be willing to let him walk rather than pay him top dollar because they have Dellin Betances waiting in the wings. All Betances has done in his 8th inning role is go 5-0, 1.42 ERA, with 133 strikeouts in 89 innings. [He’s also allowed just 44 hits.]

The thing is the Yankees could have signed Robertson to a home-town discount last offseason and Robertson was miffed he wasn’t offered a decent extension. But the Yanks are convinced one of their other lesser-paid guys will fill Betances’ role when he moves to up to Big Cheese.

--As the New York Times’ Tyler Kepner wrote this weekend, once again the St. Louis Cardinals are right there in September, playing their best ball. It just seems to work outthat way every year. The Cards were 73-63 on Aug. 31, but have gone 14-5 since (prior to Sunday night’s game), keeping the startling Pirates at bay.

--Speaking of which, what a remarkable follow-up season for the Buccos after 2013’s magic. Clint Hurdle’s boys were 71-68 on Sept. 3 and seemingly out of the playoff hunt but have gone 13-3 since. And it’s been great seeing the fans fill the place every night in the stretch run.

Golf Balls

--After 260 years, members of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews have voted in favor of women joining the club. Royal & Ancient secretary Peter Dawson, who also acts as chief executive of the R&A, announced the membership voted overwhelmingly in favor; specifically 85% of the members who took part (2/3s were needed). Dawson added a significant number of women will be fast-tracked for membership in the coming months. [Annika Sorenstam no doubt among them.]

In The Open rota, Muirfield, Royal St. George’s and Royal Troon remain male only.

--Adam Scott and Steve Williams are no longer a partnership. Initially, Williams, Tiger’s former caddie, was only supposed to be on Scott’s bag a few events but they lasted three years together. Three most profitable ones. Scott has made the cut in each of his 14 major championship starts since failing to do so the first time Williams was caddie, Congressional 2010, and the two teamed for the 2013 Masters triumph. Scott and Williams also won a World Golf Championship, a FedEx Cup playoff and this year at Colonial, plus a number of big Australian PGA events.

Unlike the bitter Woods / Williams breakup, Scott only had great things to say about Stevie. The issue was Williams wanted to cut his schedule way back and that didn’t fit what Scott is looking for.

I’ll take the bag for you Adam! Pick me! Pick me! [Hmmm...let’s see...10% for a win, 7% for a second....]

--Interesting story in Sports Illustrated by Alan Shipnuck on the elusive Anthony Kim, now 29, who hasn’t teed it up at a PGA Tour event in 28 months. Hardly anyone sees him, unless you are part of the high-stakes poker games he plays in Dallas, or at his favorite bar there (So & So’s), or a number of places in La Quinta, California.

It was back in 2008 that Kim made the Ryder Cup team and waxed Sergio Garcia in the singles, 5 and 4, to help propel the U.S. to its victory, and only one since 1999. He won two events in 2008 and was sixth on the money list, and he was right up there at the Masters in 2009 and 2010.

But then came his left thumb injury, which was operated on a month after the 2010 Masters and his comeback was unsuccessful. More injuries followed, including a ruptured Achilles tendon while running on a beach.

Supposedly he is healthy, but he refuses to talk to anyone from the press and his close friends never give their names when being quoted.

So what’s the deal? As Alan Shipnuck writes, “The answer very well may lie in an insurance policy Kim has against a career-ending injury. An IMG source [IMG being his manager] pegged its value at $10 million, tax-free. Kim’s friend, who has had financial discussions with him, says, ‘It’s significantly north of that. Not quite 20, but close. That is weighing on him, very much so. He’s trying to weigh the risk of coming back. The way he’s phrased it to me is, ‘if I take one swing on Tour, the policy is voided.’”

The feeling is he would need to earn $35 million on and off the course to make it worth the risk. As Shipnuck notes, that’s when you factor in taxes, agent’s commissions; private jets; caddie and coaching fees and other expenses related to the modern Tour.

And then there are the whispers about Kim’s partying. Actually, far more than whispers. The stories became legend. Some might not have been true, but enough were. After his third PGA Tour win in Houston, 2010, followed by the near miss at the Masters, Kim was spinning out of control and his game with it.

Kim could easily return to the Tour based on his major medical exemption, but to retain his playing privileges he’d need to earn $613,500 in his next 16 events. Other than that he’d be relying on sponsor exemptions and the past-champions category.

The bottom line seems to be that Kim can’t stand the PGA Tour and the stodgy, corporate atmosphere surrounding it. He has also burned a lot of bridges with Tour officials.

And there is the thought that after all his injuries, his body just couldn’t stand up to Tour play.

Yet a friend says Kim is always talking about golf and is an avid Golf Channel watcher. He’s restless. “It’s kind of sad to see,” says a friend. “Sometimes I just want to grab him and shake him and yell, ‘What the hell are you doing? You’re Anthony Kim! Get off the damn couch and get out there and find your game!’”

--NASCAR...Joey Logano won the second round of the Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon. He thus moves on automatically to the next round, after four drivers are eliminated next weekend. 

But Saturday, Cole Custer became the youngest winner in Camping World Truck Series history as the 16-year-old captured a race at the New Hampshire track.

--Asia’s No. 1 tennis star, Li Na, announced she is retiring, saying after four knee surgeries she can’t be the tennis player she used to be; the most recent surgery being back in July.

The 32-year-old was the first Asian woman to win a grand slam event, including this year’s Australian Open. Her other big title was the 2011 French Open.

[Separately, in Connecticut’s Old Man Tennis League, Jeff B., despite a knee injured “while getting snacks...and then icing it for hours,” as recorded by the league secretary, Arnie H., proceeded to “win all three sets on Court 1, thereby earning him the top position,” Numero Uno, out of 67 players. As Ronald Reagan would have said of Jeff, “Not bad...not bad at all.” I’ve seen the standings and they have been verified by Ernst & Young.]

--Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner California Chrome raced in the Pennsylvania Derby on Saturday and it was thought the colt would romp and steal the $1 million dollar purse, but Bayern won the mile-and-an-eighth race in 1 minute 46.96 to set a track record at Parx Racing, a record that had existed since 1974. Bayern has five wins in nine races this year.

As for Chrome, just like in the Belmont it was boxed in and finished sixth, though jockey Victor Espinoza was careful not to “over-ride him,” Chrome’s handlers gearing up for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 1. [It was also Chrome’s first race since June.]

--Ben Affleck admitted he’s been caught card counting at casinos. Seemingly referring to an April incident when he was asked to leave the Hard Rock Las Vegas, Affleck, in a cover story for Details magazine, said, “That is a true story. I took some time to learn the game and became a decent blackjack player. And once I became decent, the casinos asked me not to play blackjack.”

Apparently the Hard Rock banned him for life from playing blackjack there. Card counting isn’t illegal, but the casinos will boot you if caught.

“I will say this,” added Affleck. “There were a number of casinos that said, ‘Hey, you can’t play blackjack here. We know you count cards. But, you know, you’re welcome to come, do whatever you want, see a show, have dinner. We’ll comp ya. Play roulette, we know you don’t play craps, but hang out, we still want your presence and business.” [New York Daily News]

Top 3 songs for the week 9/23/78: #1 “Boogie Oogie Oogie” (A Taste Of Honey) #2 “Kiss You All Over” (Exile) #3 “Hopelessly Devoted To You” (Olivia Newton-John)...and...#4 “Three Times A Lady” (Commodores) #5 “An Everlasting Love” (Andy Gibb) #6 “Summer Nights” (John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John & Cast) #7 “Don’t Look Back” (Boston) #8 “Hot Blooded” (Foreigner) #9 “Hot Child In the City” (Nick Gilder) #10 “Reminiscing” (Little River Band...this song saved the week...I wasn’t doing well in school and crappy music didn’t help the GPA...at least that’s what I told my parents...who thought this was a dubious theory...but I pointed out I did better in 1968, when I was in fourth grade, because music was better then...that didn’t work either...)

Baseball Quiz Answer: The great Rico Carty hit 30 homers for the first time in his career at age 39 back in 1978, while splitting his season between Toronto and Oakland. When you talk about the miracles of modern sports medicine, and how it could have impacted the careers of some of the older players of our youth, no hitter stands out more than Carty, at least in the 1960s and 70s. Tony Oliva would be another. Of course literally hundreds of pitchers would have benefited from Tommy John surgery back in those days.

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