LITTLE ROCK — It’s nothing to flip over, Dusty says
Cincinnati Reds Manager Dusty Baker has made sure that closer Aroldis Chapman won’t be doing any more somersaults after finishing a game.
Chapman did a pair of forward rolls after striking out Martin Maldonado to completea 4-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night.
Chapman has been struggling lately and celebrated his ninth save with somersaults toward home plate.
Baker has made sure that Chapmanknows he was out of line.
“It’s been addressed already and it’s over,” Baker said Wednesday before an afternoon game against the Brewers. “It won’t happen again - ever. Iknow he’s happy and things have been going poorly for him, but he’s got to demonstrate in a different way.”
Chapman, who speaks through a translator, declined to discuss it. Grounded
Iowa State forward RoyceWhite was flying under the radar last spring until he had two big performances against Connecticut and eventual champion Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament.
As a result, the 6-8 forward vaulted into the consciousness of NBA talent evaluators and was thought by some to be a lottery pick after declaring early for the draft following his sophomore season.
But White has a problem that many NBA teams may find hard to deal with for today’s draft. He has a fear of flying.
“Every time I get on a plane, I get something to eat real quick and get my headphones on and close all the blinds,” White told the Chicago Sun-Times. “I don’t want to see nothing. I hate flying.
There’s no reason to go up that high.”
White flew to many games last season, but he also drove to some contests with his grandfather, including to the team’s NCAA Tournament games in Louisville, Ky., more than 600 miles away.
White said his problem is not a character issue.
“I don’t like it when that association is made,” White said.
“There’s a lot of people out there who have an anxiety disorder and don’t talk about it for that reason.
People think it’s a character issue and it’s not.” Changing colors
Jamie Moyer, the 49-yearold pitcher recently released by Baltimore, is heading to Toronto.
Wrote Janice Hough of leftcoastsportsbabe.com: “Will this make Moyer the first Toronto ‘Gray Jay?’ ” The law and Linsanity
New York Knicks guard Jeremy Lin is among four players who were granted “Bird” and “early Bird” rights for free agency, a ruling that would allow the Knicks to go over the salary cap to re-sign him.”
Wrote Reggie Hayes of The News-Sentinel of Fort Wayne, Ind.: “The NBA will appeal, so I guess we’re about to enter a period known as ‘Linigation.’ ” Fast and furious
Brad Dickson of the Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald, after sprinter Usain Bolt was involved in a minor auto accident: “He was going 35. No word if he was inside a vehicle or on foot.”Quote of the day “It’s a major for me.” Former Arkansas Razorbacks golfer
Stacy Lewis on playing in the LPGA NW
Arkansas Championship in Rogers
Sports, Pages 14 on 06/28/2012