LITTLE ROCK — FIU puts rep on line for 0 for 4
In light of Garrett Wittels’ 56-game hitting streak ending Friday night, David J. Neal of The Miami Herald questions Florida International University’s decision to let the shortstop continue playing after he was charged with rape in the Bahamas last year.
“Was it worth it?” Neal wrote.
“That’s the only question left for Florida International University after two Southeastern Louisiana pitchers and a third baseman’s Brooks Robinson imitation kept Garrett Wittels’ hitting streak confined to 56 games in 2010.
“Was it worth having the school’s name mentioned all too closely with the word “rape” in the local media in recent days and on ESPN’s Internet broadcast of Friday’s game? Was all that worth the attention from the alleged worldwide leader in sports and an almost guaranteed SportsCenter spot? Worth themultiplied media coverage?
Worth the crowd of 1,755 at FIU Baseball Stadium?
“That’s the trade-off FIU made with its decision to let Wittels play, whether the school believes him innocent or guilty of the rape charges he’s facing in the Bahamas.”
Wittels went 0 for 4 in Florida International’s 10-2 loss to Southeastern Louisiana on Friday night in Miami, leaving him two games shy of matching Robin Ventura’s 58-game Division I record for Oklahoma State in 1987 and four short of the NCAA record of 60 games by Damian Costantino of Division III Salve Regina in 2001-2003.
On Saturday, Wittels also went 0 for 4, but the Golden Panthers beat Southeastern Louisiana 8-3.
Flabbergasted
Former UCLA and NBA center Bill Walton voiced his displeasure Friday to Jonathan Abrams of theLos Angeles Times after learning that Reggie Miller was not among the 12 finalists for the 2011 class of the Basketball Hall of Fame.
“Reggie Miller, that guy’s a Hall of Famer,” said Walton, who was inducted into theHall of Fame in 1993. “The Hall of Fame is about history, it’s about changing the course of history.
“I am flabbergasted, flabbergasted on a lot of fronts.
Flabbergasted that Jamaal Wilkes is not already in the Hall of Fame, flabbergasted that Reggie Miller is not front and center here today. If I was in charge, things would be different.” Sing us a song
Looking for a song that expresses the beef between Seattle Supersonics fansand NBA Commissioner David Stern, The Seattle Times columnist Jerry Brewer decided on “Your Cheatin’ Heart” by Hank Williams Jr.
“Didn’t think I’d go country, huh?” Brewerwrote. “I like this song because it’s a sad ballad and it’s a warning to an unfaithful person that he/she will feel guilty for cheating. That’s so Stern, at least as he relates to Seattle.
“Now, he has regrets? Well, that’s what happens when you make a silly decision to abandon a market that has been great for your league.
“Sing it, Hank.”Quote of the day
“If he didn’t believe he was bulletproof, he
certainly believed he
was Teflon-coated.” NASCAR team owner Jack Roush, remembering the late Dale Earnhardt
Sports, Pages 24 on 02/20/2011