For the first time since Florida International University created a football team, the Miami Herald did not cover the Panthers’ home season opening game Saturday because the school refused to provide a press credential to the newspaper’s beat reporter.
FIU athletics officials denied the Herald’s request for a game pass for reporter David J. Neal, who has been covering FIU sports since June 2011. Passes were granted for a Herald columnist and photographer.
No explanation was given by FIU, but Neal’s access to FIU coaches and athletes had been dwindling for months, to the point where he was no longer permitted to attend football practice or conduct interviews. Last week, when Neal attempted to write a story on the FIU women’s soccer team, he was told no one was allowed to talk to him.
“It’s unprecedented for any local team to refuse to credential our beat reporter without reason,” Miami Herald Executive Editor Aminda Marqués Gonzalez said of the four pro and two college teams the Herald covers on a regular basis. “The team does not get to choose who covers the program.”
The ban on Neal was imposed without an explanation from Pete Garcia, FIU’s athletic director and executive director of sports and entertainment.
The Royal smell
Kansas City catcher Salvador Perez and shortstop Alcides Escobar see no reason why they shouldn’t add some pleasant odors to the foulness of their work environment.
So they wear perfume while they’re playing.
As in Chanel. And Victoria’s Secret.
Really. “It started with him [Escobar],” Perez said.
“I noticed he always smelled pretty good. Then I started trying it. And I liked it.”
Perez explained that he truly did want to rid his bulky and sweat-soaked catching gear of some of its rankness — the powerful scent of women’s perfume did the trick.
And what kind of comments does Perez get from the umpires who have to huddle in close to him behind home plate?
“One of them said I smell like a girl,” Perez said.
“That’s OK. Most of them like it, too.”
Have a seat
It’s a good thing Ashley Furniture is located in College Station, Texas, because they’re going to owe Texas A&M fans more than $1 million.
The store put out a promotion earlier this month saying it would cover the costs of furniture purchased between Aug. 16 through Aug. 27 if Texas A&M defeated South Carolina by at least 10 points.
The Aggies were a 10-point underdog, but ended up winning 52-28 (24 points for the math challenged).
Store owner Mark Wilks told ESPN that 600 people purchased more than $1 million of furniture during the promotional period. One fan bought $20,000 worth of furniture.
The store did take out insurance for the promotion, so all of its debts are covered. The store will just have to pay the insurance company 15 percent of what it will reimburse.
“We’re going to have a big check writing party at the store,” Wilks told ESPN.com.
Quote of the day
“I do think that the best thing for him is to be in that race car.”
NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Jeff Gordon, on Tony Stewart’s return to racing