‘Buddy’ helps Hunter stay in the game
During the Detroit Tigers’ 4-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Monday, starting pitcher Bud Norris was ejected in the eighth inning after hitting Torii Hunter (Pine Bluff) with a pitch.
The plunking came two pitches after Ian Kinsler hit a two-run home run to extend Detroit’s lead. After Hunter was hit, he and Norris exchanged words, which led both benches and bullpens to empty onto the field.
While Hunter was arguing with the ejected Norris in the second wave of the altercation, third base umpire Paul Nauert harmlessly tapped Hunter in the face, seemingly in an attempt to get him to stop arguing. Hunter was not upset with Nauert and called him his “buddy.”
“That’s my guy,” Hunter said of Nauert. “He was trying to cover my mouth. I’ve known him too long [to be upset]. He was just saying to me, ‘C’mon, T. You’re way better than that.’ And he’s right. I apologize to the fans for my reaction.”
Home plate umpire James Hoye told a pool reporter that Hunter was not disciplined because “I think Bud Norris was the instigator in that position again.”
“I wouldn’t eject Torii, because Bud Norris instigates it at that point. Why would I throw Torii out?”
Don’t text that
Don Jones (Arkansas State) of the Miami Dolphins was issued an undisclosed fine and ordered to undergo educational training after tweeting “OMG” and “horrible” when Michael Sam became the first openly gay athlete drafted by the NFL.
Wrote Reggie Hayes of The News-Sentinel of Fort Wayne, Ind.: “At least the Miami Dolphins don’t have a history of players being insensitive or unenlightened.”
Johnny on the spot
Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam said the team has told Johnny Manziel to start acting “like a backup quarterback.”
“We were very frank with him that ‘You’re the backup quarterback. This is a hardworking, blue-collar town. This isn’t Hollywood,’ ” Haslam said.
“We want you to come in here, work hard and work as hard as anybody on the team. He’s not the starter. Brian Hoyer is our starting quarterback. Johnny is the backup.”
Wrote Janice Hough of leftcoastsportsbabe.com: “So will Manziel now seek to trademark ‘Johnny Clipboard?’”
Bowling for dollars
The Bowling Proprietors Association of America has canceled the sport’s 2015 U.S. Open, citing lack of interest from sponsors.
Wrote Dwight Perry of The Seattle Times: “Apparently no one had money to spare.”
Quote of the day
“The bass fishing world lost a great ambassador.”
Larry Nixon on the death of Ricky Green
Sports quiz
Bud Norris was drafted by this team in 2006.
Sports answer
The Houston Astros
Sports on 05/14/2014