Chris Sale's chase for a World Series ring was interrupted by another piece of jewelry. Or so he would have some believe.
The Red Sox ace told reporters Saturday that he was hospitalized during the American League Championship Series because he had an irritation from a belly button ring, but it was later revealed that story was intended as a joke.
"Just constantly taking it in and out, causing irritation and got a rash down there," Sale told reporters of how the ring caused his hospitalization. "Had to take care of that. Doctors and nurses over at MGH [Massachusetts General Hospital] were awesome. Things happen, you handle them and keep moving forward."
The story -- which turned out to be just that -- was just Sale trolling members of the media, one of his Red Sox teammates told USA Today.
"He told me he was going to say that," the anonymous player said. "But I didn't believe him."
Sale had been scheduled to start Game 5 on Thursday against the Houston Astros, but missed the start after being hospitalized last Sunday with what the Red Sox described at the time as "a stomach illness." Boston won Thursday's game, 4-1, behind David Price.
Red Sox Manager Alex Cora said Friday on WEEI-FM in Boston that Sale would start Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Sale is 1-0 this postseason with a 3.48 ERA and 14 strikeouts over 10 1/3 innings.
Blazing along
It was not so long ago that the Alabama-Birmingham football program was seemingly shut down for good, but the Blazers have taken advantage of life after death. With their 29-21 victory over North Texas on Saturday, the Blazers clinched bowl-eligibility for a second consecutive season after being brought back from their abbreviated hiatus.
UAB Coach Bill Clark is now three-for-three in putting together a bowl-eligible season at the school. The Blazers went 6-6 in Clark's first season on the job in 2014. UAB did not play in a bowl game, however, as the school announced the program was shutting down at the end of the regular season and no bowl trip would be taken by the program. Clark stuck with the university as it decided to bring the football program back beginning in 2017, and Clark coached the program to an 8-5 record last season, ending with a loss in the Bahamas Bowl.
UAB is 10-0 at home since being revived as a program and this season's 6-1 start is the best start for the Blazers in program history.
Forever young
Given the state of the NFL's kicking game, former Indianapolis Colts punter Pat McAfee may be getting some calls this morning.
Prior to Sunday's game between the Colts and Buffalo Bills, McAfee dressed as an elderly man to kick field goals for charity. The 31-year-old raised $70,000 for the IU Simon Cancer Center.
McAfee spent eight seasons with the Colts, reaching the Pro Bowl on two occasions and earning first-team All-Pro honors in 2014. He retired after the 2016 season.
McAfee's stunt must have inspired the Colts, who dropped 24 points on the Bills in the second quarter and won 37-5.
Sports on 10/22/2018