LITTLE ROCK — GM: Price isn’t right for Pujols
Count Chicago White Sox General Manager Kenny Williams among those who doesn’t want to see the St. Louis Cardinals give slugger Albert Pujols whatever he wants.
It has been speculated that Pujols, who becomes a free agentafter this season, could become the first player with a salaray that averages $30 million per year.
In an interview with Comcast, Williams said: “For the game’s health as a whole, when we’re talking about $30 million players,I think it’s asinine.
“We have gotten to the point of no return. Something has to happen. And if it means the game being shut down for the sake of bringing sanity to it, to franchisesthat aren’t going to stop the insanity, I’m all for it. ... You’re not going to get any disagreement from me or argument from me if the game is shut down for a while until something is put in place where there is some sort of [salary] cap on the board.”
On Tuesday, he said his comments weren’t directed at Pujols and that he doesn’t want a work stoppage.
“Who does? Come on. Come on. This is a game where millionsupon millions of people watch on television and come to the ballpark to get away from some of the things that are going on in life, to have a little bit of entertainment,” Williams said.
“That’s all I’m saying. That’s exactly what I’m saying, is that we have to protect that. We are stewards of the game and we have to protect it.”
Protecting the game appears to be worth at least $125 million, which is what the White Sox payroll could exceed this season.
Couples retreat
Don’t expect to hear Fred Couples go tweet anytime soon.
“If I did Twitter, would I tell people that I’m heading home and then going to eat at California Pizza Kitchen?
Is that what you do?” Couples asked. “Or do you actually tweetinformation?
Well, what information do I have for my 500,000 followers? I’m 51.
I live in the desert. They all know that already.
“If you guys write well enough,they’ll know that I’m in good shape going into tomorrow. I don’t need to tweet anybody.” They have radio, too
New Minnesota Twin Tsuyoshi Nishioka is a popular man at the team’s spring training complex in Fort Myers, Fla.
The Japanese import had 13 journalists surrounding him at his locker Tuesday in advance of the first full-squad workout today.
That prompted Twins prospect Rene Tosoni to ask, “How many channels do they have in Japan?” Missing the point
Ian Hamilton of the Regina (Sasketchewan) Leader-Post has found a high school team that apparently believes in the motto: “If at first you don’t succeed, trey, trey again.”
The West Burlington boys team in Iowa attempted 103 threepointers in a game and made eight in a 109-25 loss.
Last call
TNT commentator Charles Barkley, on a garish green suit worn by Darryl Dawkins at Saturday’s NBA dunk contest: “Hey, Mama, I found out what happened to your curtains.”Quote of the day
“That’s what happens when you build a
20,000-seat arena and
things go south. You create that monster, and now you’ve got to feed
it, and sometimes you run out of food.” Former coach Nolan Richardson on sagging attendance at Arkansas’ men’s basketball games
Sports, Pages 20 on 02/23/2011