LITTLE ROCK — Arkansans glad to be in Detroit
The Detroit Tigers introduced Torii Hunter of Pine Bluff to their fans on Friday after finalizing a $26 million, two-year deal with the free-agent outfielder.
Hunter was in a jovial mood during the news conference, joking with Tigers owner Mike Ilitch, and he wouldn’t give a straight answer when asked who should have been the American League MVP in 2012 - former teammate Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels, or new teammate and eventual winner Miguel Cabrera of Detroit.
“That’s a hot tamale - that question right there,” Hunter said.
“I would like for both of those guys to win it.”
Hunter, 37, hit a career-best .313 last season for the Los Angeles Angels with 16 home runs and 92 RBI, and when he went on the open market, he began eyeing Detroit right away.
And that was just fine with fellow Arkansan Drew Smyly (Little Rock Central, Arkansas Razorbacks), a left-handed pitcher for the Tigers.
“I can’t wait to get to play with Torii,” Smyly said. “Growing up in Arkansas, every place I went you heard about the legacy he left.
Now to have the chance to play beside him is incredible.”
Hunter said he is looking forward to playing for Manager Jim Leyland.
“He is a funny old man,” Hunter said. “We’d talk to each other during batting practice, and he would have me rolling.” Love to hate
Ohio State wide receiver Corey Brown isn’t sure whom he hates more, the Wisconsin Badgers or the Michigan Wolverines.
“I don’t want to go on record as saying that I hate Wisconsin more than Michigan,” Brown told the Associated Press before Saturday’s 21-14 victory over Wisconsin, “but I hate Wisconsin just as much as Michigan.”
Maybe not this week. The Buckeyes take on Michigan on Saturday in Columbus, Ohio.
One-man team
So, let’s say freshman sensation Johnny Manziel had gone to Texas instead of Texas A&M, where he has led the Aggies to 9-2 record and No. 9 BCS ranking.
That’s the question pondered by writers Kirk Bohls and Cedric Golden of the Austin American-Statesman.
Asked how Manziel, 6-1, 200, would have been utilized if had he signed with Texas, Golden said not much would be different.
“He would have been at Texas what he is at A&M - the best dual-threat quarterback in the country,” Golden wrote.
Bohls had a different idea, more befitting a Texas program that gets its choice of the prototype players.
“He’d be the best safety on the team,” Bohls wrote.
Bowling for Bynum
It might be time to add bowling to the list of forbidden activities for professional athletes.
The Philadelphia 76ers fear All-Star center Andrew Bynum, who enjoys his free time at the bowling alley, might have done additional damage to his knees while bowling.
ESPN reported that sources close to the situation said that Bynum suffered an unspecified injury this month while bowling.
On Friday, Bynum revealed that - on top of the issues with his right knee that could keep him sidelined until January - he also had suffered a “setback” with his left knee.
“I kind of have a mirror thing going on with my left knee,” Bynum said before the Sixers beat the Utah Jazz on Friday night. “I don’t know what’s going on, but the doctors are saying pretty much that it’s a weakened cartilage state.”
Quote of the day
“You can see our team is a totally different team with him out there.” Arkansas men’s basketball Coach Mike Anderson on sophomore BJ Young
Sports, Pages 14 on 11/19/2012