LITTLE ROCK — Players want team to up pay
According to the Miami Herald, the Major League Baseball Players Association said if Miami Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria doesn’t increase his team’s payroll in 2013, they plan to pursue the issue with Commissioner Bud Selig.
In 2010, the MLBPA and MLB reached an agreement that required the Marlins to boost their payroll for three years. The Marlins’ payroll was $37 million in 2009 before it was increased to $46 million in 2010.
The Marlins’ 2013 payroll projects to $32.5 million, but it’s $45 million counting money they owe other teams from salary dumping trades, including the deal that sent infielder Jose Reyes and pitcher Mark Buehrle to Toronto earlier in the off season.
“We don’t have to wait until next October to pursue it,” the source said.
Former commissioner Fay Vincent expects “the commissioner [Selig] and union will strongly encourage Loria to spend some money. They can make it very uncomfortable if he doesn’t.”
But the Marlins have said they lost $40 million last season and don’t expect to make much money this season because they expect attendance and associated ballpark revenue to plummet. Also, the Marlins expect to collect much less in revenue sharing this season (between $10 million and $15 million) than past seasons.
On hold
Before the AFC Championship Game on Sunday, Clear Channel put up several billboards in the Boston area featuring a countdown clock to a retirement party for Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis.
Lewis, who announced after the regular season that 2012 would be his final season in the NFL, and the Ravens had the last laugh, though.
The Ravens beat the Patriots 28-13 to advance to their second Super Bowl. After the game, Lewis said he was not pleased with the billboard.
“I was hurt when I saw a sign that actually said my retirement would [start] tonight,” Lewis told ESPN. “Man can’t dictate that. God dictates that.”
On Monday, billboards in Baltimore popped up with a message:
“Ray’s retirement party moved to Feb. 3 (New England not invited).”
Puck teeth
With the NHL beginning its2013 season Saturday, Las Vegas dentist Dr. Afshin Azimi is offering a 20 percent discount on dental services performed at his office.
To qualify for the offer, patients are required to bring in a hockey puck to their appointment during January.
Azimi has been the team doctor of the East Coast Hockey League’s Las Vegas Wranglers since 2004.
“I have been performing dental work on our team for years, and this is a promotion geared to give back to fans and also celebrate the end to the pro lockout,” Azimi told PRWeb.com. “I thought it would be fun to have fans bring in a hockey puck to prove their allegiance to the sport and qualify for the discount.”
They said it
John Boyle of the Everett (Wash.) Herald, via Twitter: “Some NFC Pro Bowl receivers are going to be really annoyed with Russell Wilson when he texts them at 6 a.m. about coverages while in Hawaii.”
Jason Gay of the Wall Street Journal, via Twitter: “Five San Francisco punk bands just named themselves Harbaugh freakout.”
Quote of the day
“Arkansas was probably madder about it than us. When you go to Ole Miss, a lot of stuff don’t work right sometimes around here.” Mississippi forward Murphy Holloway after the lights went out at Ole Miss’ Tad Smith Coliseum to cause a lengthy delay during Saturday’s game against Arkansas
Sports, Pages 16 on 01/22/2013