Hot Button: Browns tanking claims unsubstantiated ... Cardinals receiver Hopkins suspended for PED use ... Bayou Badger: Mathieu signing with Saints

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Hot Button is a 'round-the-clock feature that covers anything across the scope of sports. We're here to bring you everything hot: News items, highlights, takes — everything but hot meals — whether local, national or international. Better yet, it’s interactive. Share your thoughts in comments, and even post your own links to interesting, safe-for-work sports stories.

So let’s go! Come on in!

NFL SAYS JACKSON'S
CLAIMS WITHOUT MERIT

Monday, May 2: The National Football League has released a statement following the conclusions of an independent investigation into former Browns head coach Hue Jackson's claims that the front office paid him and other coaches to tank games in 2016 and 2017 to improve draft position, and that the franchise intentionally made poor personnel decisions to field a bad team to the same end.

In its formal findings, former U.S. Attorney and SEC Chair Mary Jo White, who led the investigation, found no basis for the claims after interviewing ownership and front-office personnel at the time and 'reviewing "thousands of pages of documents, including emails, texts, internal memos and presentation decks, as well as other material relating to club operations and the filings and testimony in the arbitration proceeding between the club and Coach Jackson." Jackson was offered the opportunity to be interviewed but declined.

My take: Did the Browns tank? Not in any way against the rules. Incompetent? Sure. But players have too much pride to collectively throw games and coaches have very little control over what happens on the field during a game, with players on both sides of the ball able to audible calls. This was always B.S. In the wake of Brian Flores' allegations against the Dolphins, Jackson was just trying to make himself look better after one of the worst head-coaching stretches in league history. Declining to be interviewed? That says it all. Good luck to Grambling, he's all yours. — Bob

D-HOP DUNKED 
FOR DOPING

Monday, May 2: Cardinals receiver De'Andre Hopkins has been suspended six games by the National Football League for violating its Performance Enhancing Drugs policy. Hopkins has withdrawn his appeal and will serve all six games, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Hopkins, 29, is entering his third season with Arizona. the three time All-Pro was limited by injury to 10 games last season and is currently rehabbing an MCL injury that forced him to miss the final four games and playoffs last season. He finished with only 42 catches for 572 yards after three consecutive seasons with 100-plus catches. Hopkins did have eight touchdowns in 2021.

The five-time Pro Bowl player will be allowed to practice with the team and attend training camp, but will have to separate himself from the club and its facilities once the season starts until his suspension expires.

My take: This loss is somewhat mitigated by the acquisition of Marquise brown from the ravens. Without the schedule announced, it will be impossible to tell what early impact this might have, despite the obvious loss of a top receiver in the league. Always shocked these guys think they won't get caught.

TOP SAFETY MATHIEU SIGNING
WITH HOMETOWN SAINTS 

Monday, May 2: "Honey Badger" finally has a home. Free agent safety Tyrann Mathieu is signing with the Saints. Terms of the agreement have yet to be revealed. Mathieu had been rumored to several teams over the last few months, including the Steelers, who decided instead to re-sign former first-round pick Terrell Edmunds.

Mathieu, a New Orleans native, is a three-time First Team All-Pro and three time Pro Bowl player in his nine-year career. Drafted out of LSU by the Cardinals in 2013, Mathieu blossomed after moving to the Chiefs in 2019, helping that team win one Super Bowl and reach another, registering 13 interceptions, 27 passes defensed, four fumble recoveries and two touchdowns in 47 games with Kansas City.

The 30-year-old will now join fellow free agent signee Marcus Maye (Jets) to form a new backend to the Saints secondary.

My take: Always nice to see athletes get to play for their hometown teams. I'd jhav etc see eh deal's details to have a full take. My guess is they will pay for production he's given other teams, but pairing with Mayes should make Saints fans breathe a bit easier in a division with Tom Brady, and outright confident against the likes of Marcus Mariota and Sam Darnold.

REDS SET TEAM RECORD 
FOR WORST SEASON START

Sunday, May 1: The Reds shed a lot of good players in the offseason and made a calculated move to rebuild. There was even anger and controversy when team president Phil Castellini threatened fans before the home opener, challenging them with, "Where else are you going to go?"

Right now, those fans are looking for any opportunity to jump ship, at least this season. Following a 10-1 loss to the Rockies Sunday, the Reds set a franchise record for futility, starting the season at 3-19 through the season's first month, the worst start in the franchise's 147-year history. Sequences like this Sunday help explain why:

My take: The Pirates visit Cincinnati Friday. As DK likes to say, "You're all getting very nervous..." — Bob

JOYCE CONTINUES TO
STRESS RADAR GUNS

Sunday May 1: University of Tennessee pitcher Ben Joyce has been lighting up radar guns all season, consistently over 100 miles per hour and comfortably in the the 102-103 range. In a game Sunday against Auburn, Joyce threw the fastest pitch ever recorded in a college game: 105.5 m.p.h.:

Aroldis Chapman holds the major-league record of 105.1. It was said Tom Seaver once threw one registered at 108 m.p.h. in 1977, but it was 1970s technology and Braves slugger Jeff Burroughs smashed it into the upper deck, so it remains urban legend.

Joyce, a JUCO transfer to the Volunteers, is currently ranked by most services as a third- or fourth-round pick in the upcoming draft, mostly over inexperience, command and limited pitch repertoire that projects him as a bullpen arm. In 19 games this season, he has a 1.02 ERA, a 0.824 WHIP and 34 strikeouts in 18 innings pitched.

My take: If he can maintain the velocity and command it while adding a third pitch, he could move up to first-round consideration. Best he stays in school one more year. — Bob

PULISIC'S TIME ENDING
AT STAMFORD BRIDGE?

Sunday, May 1: U.S. star Christian Pulisic has had a tumultuous tenure at Chelsea. With injuries and his usage this season by former Paris St-Germain skipper Thomas Tuchel, frustration is mounting within the Pulisic camp. Christian's father and former Riverhounds assistant Mark Pulisic sent an ominous tweet that suggested Pulisic might want off the club on a transfer:

The tweet has since been deleted.

Pulisic has 18 goals in 70 appearances with the West London club, since a loan from Borussia Dortmund in 2019. However, Pulisic has played limited minutes under Tuchel, who's preferred to start countryman Timo Werner, and has often subbed in Pulisic for Werner late when trailing. When Pulisic has started, he's often not at his best position. Despite the disconnect with Tuchel. Pulisic has produced for Chelsea in big matches late this season as they attempt to finish top 4 in table, and his performances have been spectacular in Champions League play.

My take: Tuchel isn't going anywhere, so the only chance for Pulisiic to get consistent playing time is on a transfer. He'll be fairly expensive, despite his limited play, but that won't be an issue for the top European clubs. In fact, Liverpool and Barcelona kicked the tires on a transfer in the Fall. Wherever it is, he needs to get the heck out of Chelsea. — Bob

DOES EL COFFEE BLAST MAKE
HIM THE NEW 'FLOWER'?

Saturday, April 30: Gregory Polanco, playing in Japan for the Yomiuri Giants, received a bouquet of flowers in the dugout after hitting his 100th career home run, including his time in Major League Baseball:

Polanco is playing his first year in Japan. In 31 games, he is slashing .255/.345/.392 with four home runs and 10 RBIs.

My take: Well, our own Alex Stumpf perhaps said it best when he tweeted, "Normalize men getting flowers after hitting monster dingers." In all seriousness, if someone had told me in 2009 that Polanco would not hit his 100th home run until 2022, I'd have looked at 'em funny and walked away, think 2012 at the latest. Great guy, but one of the biggest busts of a top-ranked prospect in franchise history. — Bob

RED WINGS OUST BLASHILL,
IN MARKET FOR NEW COACH

Saturday, April 30: The Red Wings have announced they will not renew the contract of head coach Jeff Blashill. 

Blashill, 48, was hired in 2015, after Mike Babcock left to coach the Maple Leafs. He made the playoffs only once, his first season, then oversaw a rebuild in Detroit. But he was never able to build on that initial success despite a roster of promising young talent. He finished 204-261-72.

My take: Not all of this is on Blashill, but he was given seven years — a lifetime for a NHL head coach — and he couldn't get it done. Tough market, so I'd expect a veteran coach gets hired to get the franchise back to its winning tradition. Torts better have his ringer on. — Bob

MARINARO RAMBLES, TOLD
TO READ VIKINGS PICK

Saturday, April 30: 1970s Vikings fullback Ed Marinaro had quite a time during Day 2 of the NFL Draft. After reaching the podium to announce the Vikings' second-round selection, Marinaro attempted to fire up Vikings fans and then launched into a long personal story about his draft experience in 1972, then his time as a fictional head coach of a fictional football team in a movie until a producer had to walk on stage and direct Marinaro to read the pick:

My take: The only thing worse than this is the 40-year-old boring magic being performed by Criss Angel to open these broadcasts. Now, if Angel could make Goodell disappear, I'd be willing to reconsider. — Bob

BAUER TO APPEAL TWO
YEAR BAN BY MLB

Friday, April 29: Dodgers ace Trevor Bauer might be out of criminal legal trouble, but he has trouble with Major League Baseball, which announced a two-year suspension of the troubled player based on sexual assault allegations made by a San Diego woman last year. The league has determined that Bauer violated its domestic violence and sexual assault policy and the suspension will be without pay. The suspension is the longest ever given to a player that was not a permanent ban.

Bauer responded to the action on Twitter, announcing his intent to appeal:

The Dodgers released a statement saying they take all such accusations seriously and that they will not comment on the matter until Bauer has gone through the appeal process.

Bauer had been on administrative leave since the allegations were made in July 2021 — he was being paid in full while under that designation. In February, the Los Angeles County district attorney's office declined to present criminal charges to grand jury, but MLB was conducting its own investigation into the matter.

Just last week, Bauer announced he is suing his accuser for defamation and slander over the incident.

My take: Wow. Not sure how the league can prevail here if a criminal case could not even be presented to a grand jury. That said, I don't have all the information and I'm glad the league takes these alleged violations seriously. Like all things with Bauer, expect fireworks moving forward. — Bob

ONE BROWN SECURES NEW DEAL
AFTER BLOCKBUSTER TRADE

Friday, April 29: There were nine trades during the first round of the NFL Draft Thursday night — a record — and two involved wide receivers changing teams. Most surprising perhaps was the Titans trade of A.J. Brown to the Eagles just one week after insisting Brown would not be traded under any circumstance. By doing so, Tennessee secured the No. 17 overall pick and took Arkansas receiver Treylon Burks.

Brown, a second-round pick in 2019, received a brand new contract shortly after the trade was announced, with the Eagles agreeing to terms on a four-year, $100-million contract, with $54 million guaranteed. In three NFL seasons, the Ole Miss alum has 185 catches for 2,995 yards and 24 touchdowns.

Brown was a popular name to be traded, with the Ravens sending Marquise "Hollywood" Brown to the Cardinals for draft capital. Brown, a first-round seletion in 2019, reunites with former Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray. Brown caught 91 passes in 2021 for 1,008 yards and has 196 career catches for 2,361 yards and 21 touchdowns. Lamar Jackson was so stunned by the move, he tweed simply "wtf". The Ravens didn't leave Jackson completely in the lurch, however, drafting top center Tyler Linderbaum, while solidifying their secondary with safety Kyle Hamilton. Generally regarded a top-5 talent in the draft, Baltimore got Hamilton at No. 14.

My take: Many predicted a crazy first round and it lived up to the hype. It was fun to watch, though there were few surprises on who was selected — just the order. Seeing both Browns traded was something of a shock, Hollywood a bit more than A.J., but each team was clearly ready to move on from three fourth-year guys, particularly the Ravens who are now out from under that fifth-year option. — Bob

PANTHERS TO GET HOME
ICE THROUGHOUT PLAYOFFS

Friday, April 29: The Florida Panthers are the 2021-22 President's Cup Trophy winners, thanks to a 4-0 shut win over the Senators and an Avalanche loss to the Wild in overtime. With one game remaining, Florida has 122 points. They will have home-ice advantage for as long as they last in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

This is the first time the franchise has led the league in points and has done it in impressive fashion, winning 58 games with only 17 regulation losses. They also have the largest goal differential this season, currently at 102, and 15 goals clear of the next highest team, the Flames.

A Penguins win over the Blue Jackets Friday guarantees a date with the Rangers, but a regulation loss and a Capitals win sends Pittsburgh to Sunrise, Florida next week for Game 1.

My take: Such an impressive team. Whether it's the Rangers or Panthers, does anyone see the Penguins advancing to Round 2? — Bob

BERNETT DEATH RULED SUICIDE
BY VIRGINIA MEDICAL EXAMINER

Thursday, April 28: James Madison University softball catcher Lauren Bernett's death has been ruled a suicide by the Western District of Virginia's medical examiner's office. 

Bernett, 20, was found dead on Tuesday, April 26, with no cause of death released. The sophomore from McDonald, Pennsylvania, was recently named the Colonial Athletic Association's player of the week. As a freshman in 2021, she helped lead the Dukes to the finals of the College World Series, the first in the university's history.

Bernett is now the second prominent female college athlete to die by suicide over the last seven weeks. Stanford's star soccer goalie Katie Meyer died March 1.

My take: Unimaginable. Two young women gone much too young. Hopefully, all programs can learn from these tragedies and spot warning signs to help prevent these. — Bob

WILL GIANTS DRAFT QB AFTER
DECLINING JONES OPTION?

Thursday, April 28: The Giants are declining the fifth-year option on quarterback Daniel Jones, making Jones eligible for free agency after the 2022 season.

Jones, drafted sixth overall in 2019, is currently expected to be the starter this season, backed up by veteran Tyrod Taylor. Marred by injuries and inconsistency, Jones has gone 12-25 in 38 career games, throwing for 8,398 yards, 45 touchdowns and 29 interceptions.

By making the decision ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft Thursday night, it opens the possibility that New York may be in the market for one of the few projectable quarterbacks in this class, holding two top-10 picks (nos. 5 and 7) in the first round. They could also trade for Jimmy Garoppolo or Baker Mayfield, or sit tight and see if Jones finally puts it all together this season.

My take: Jones has shown flashes but has also appeared overmatched so far in his career. Granted, the team has been terrible, so it's hard to make a full assessment, but this is the right move by the Giants. Now what will they do at QB in 2023? — Bob

METS, FED UP WITH GETTING
HIT, EXACT REVENGE

Thursday, April 28: The Mets have had the most hit batsmen in the young season and after three players were hit by Cardinals pitchers Tuesday, including one where the benches cleared without incident. New York decided to send a message Wednesday afternoon, with reliever Yoan Lopez throwing near Nolan Arenado's head, leading to a benches-clearing brawl:

Mets first baseman Pete Alonso was tackled in the scrum by St. Louis first-base coach Stubby Clapp. Clapp was ejected, as was Arenado for inciting the incident by challenging Lopez to "do it again" after the brushback.

New York's Tuesday starter, Chris Bassitt, blamed the inconsistency in the manufacture of the league's baseballs, stating that he, too, was having difficulty controlling some of his pitches. Still, he complained about the frequency with which his teammates were being hit.

My take: The Mets have some plate-crowders, Starling Marte chief among them. There's no animus among non-division rivals. I'm not surprised a Buck Showalter team is complaining, though. Kind of his M.O. — Bob

MANNINGS HONOR LATE TEAMMATE
THOMAS WITH SCHOLARSHIP

Thursday, April 28: Peyton Manning and his wife Ashley are funding a new scholarship in the name of Peyton's late teammate and receiver Demaryius Thomas at Georgia Tech, Thomas' alma mater. Thomas died in December at age 33 from what was believed to be a seizure, a chronic disorder perhaps the result of an automobile accident in 2019.

The new scholarship will be awarded to help students from the Montrose, Georgia area, where Thomas grew up, attend the university.

Manning said he and Ashley started the endowment because their families were great friends and they "wanted to find a way to honor him and keep his legacy alive, and also give back at the same time to someone from the same area where he’s from.”

My take: All class, but that's no surprise when it's the Manning family. It's a fitting tribute to a great player who had his career shortened by that accident. A wonderful way to cement his legacy. — Bob

ANNUAL NHLPA POLL
RESULTS RELEASED

Wednesday, April 27: The annual National Hockey League Players' Association poll results have been released, in which players throughout the league vote on several "best" categories, and Sidney Crosby is still leading in a couple categories. Here are some results:

Most complete player: Crosby
Best role model: Crosby
Goalie for a must-win game: Andrei Vasilevskiy
Player you hate to play against but would love on your team: Brad Marchand
Most coveted shot: Ovechkin
Best stickhandler: Patrick Kane
Best hair: Cody Eakin
Best ice: Bell Centre, Montreal
Best women's player: Marie-Philip Poulin

My take: Sid's still getting it done with the players, but as the "most complete player" he couldn't buy a Selke if he wanted to. Question for you guys: Would you want Marchand on your favorite team? I would. — Bob

TWINS WALK IT OFF AFTER
SERIES OF BLUNDERS

Wednesday, April 27: The Twins and Tigers contributed to the 2022 Major League Baseball blooper reel Tuesday night, with the Twins getting a walk-off win because the Tigers made just one more bad play than they did in the same play sequence, which began with a Miguel Sano line drive:

My take: There is never a shortage of plays in an MLB season that could have been as easily botched by a bunch of eight-year-olds. Somewhere in South Korea, Will Craig is smiling. — Bob

YANKEES LETTER BASIS FOR MANFRED
CRACKING DOWN ON SIGN SEALING

Tuesday, April 26: Regular readers will remember a piece I wrote a few weeks ago detailing a letter from Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred to Yankees general manager Brian Cashman which the team unsuccessfully attempted to quash from public release. Tuesday, that letter was first obtained by SNY Network in New York. The contents reveal why the Yankees wished to have it kept secret.

As an overview, the Yankees conducted questionable behavior with sign stealing in 2015 and 2016 — not to the extent the Astros and Red Sox did subsequently, but they broke at least one existing rule. The letter detailed how the league discerned how the Yankees used the video room adjacent to the dugout, first introduced to all teams in 2014, to identify pitch sequences and signal that information to baserunners who, in turn, would attempt to alert batters.

Additionally, then-pitching coach Larry Rothschild knowingly asked the video room for pitch identification, which was a clear violation of existing league rules. For that violation, the Yankees were fined $100,000. 

Manfred, who did not anticipate how teams might use the video room despite guidelines forbidding certain behavior, used the incident to strengthen the guidelines into stricter rules, which led to the Astros and Red Sox scandals.

The Yankees issued a statement Tuesday acknowledging the letter and fine, stating that its initial use of the video room — beyond Rothschild — was consistent with the rules in place at the time. 

My take: The Yankees invented the cheating they complained the Astros used against them in 2017 ... just without trash cans — classic — suffering the irony of being eaten by the monster they created. *chef's kiss* — Bob

RUSSIA BOOTED FROM 
HOSTING HOCKEY WORLDS

Tuesday, April 26: The International Ice Hockey Federation has pulled the men's World Championship from Russia in 2023, because of that nation's invasion of Ukraine. Scheduled for St. Petersburg from May 5-21, the tournament's new host will be announced in May.

This is the second sanction of Russia by the IIHF since the invasion, pulling the men's World Junior Championship in 2023.

My take: This has more influence than banning individual athletes from competition. ESPN reported there was a new arena built to host the men's Worlds, which will go unused, at least for the time being. Banning national teams, too, like no World Cup participation, is appropriate and effective. Banning Andrey Rublev from Wimbledon? Not so much. — Bob

MICKELSON TO PLAY MAJORS, 
NEW INTERNATIONAL TOUR

Tuesday, April 26: Phil Mickelson returning to competitive golf. Two months after setting off a firestorm by excusing Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses to promote a new tour, LIV Golf International, the six-time major championship winner has registered to play in the remaining three majors this season after skipping The Masters, which he's won three times.

Mickelson also sought releases from the PGA Tour to play in LIV Golf events. As a tour member, any player wishing to play an LIV event needs a release from the PGA Tour. 

LIV Golf International, run by former star golfer Greg Norman, has abandoned a full tour schedule for 2021 after garnering little support from the PGA and European Tours. It will instead host eight events, each a 54-hole, shotgun-start format without cuts, guaranteeing $250 million in prize money. Currently, it claims it has 15 of the world's top-50 players committed to the first event outside London, England, from June 9-11, which is the same weekend as the Canadien Open. Other events will be in Boston; Portland, Oregon; Bedminster, New Jersey; Chicago; Bangkok, Thailand; Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

My take: There's no word on whether Mickelson has gotten any of his endorsements back, but he's one of the biggest draws in the game and I'm sure all will be forgiven soon. The money is good, for sure, so it will be interesting if LIV can grow into a tour — just an invite guarantees a check. — Bob

HIGGINS OUT MONTHS AFTER
SHOULDER SURGERY

Monday, April 25: Bengals receiver Tee Higgins is expected to miss "a couple months" after having surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder. Higgins played through the injury in 2021, his second National Football League season, and decided a surgical repair was best to return to full health. With the timing of the surgery, the Bengals hope to have Higgins back a. some point during training camp and are currently optimistic the Clemson grad will be ready fro the regular season.

Higgins caught 74 passes last season for the AFC champions, totaling 1,091 yards and six touchdowns.

My take: Ja'Marr Chase got all the press, but Higgins was a vital part of that offense. It's essential he's healthy for the regular season if they hope to repeat. — Bob

OVECHKIN'S STATUS UNKNOWN
AFTER THIRD-PERIOD INJURY

Sunday, April 24: The Capitals lost more than the opportunity to tie the standings with the Penguins after a 4-3 loss to the Maple Leafs Sunday, they lost the greatest goal-scorer on the planet. Alex Ovechkin let the ice early in the third period after tripping over goaltender Erik Kallgren's stick after a breakaway shot and crashed into the boards, appearing to injure his shoulder. He did not return.

Head coach Peter Laviolette had no update postgame, only offering that Ovechkin would be evaluated further for an upper-body injury.

My take: Looked bad. If that shoulder's not 100 percent, he's going lose some ooomph on that one-time slapper. Here's hoping he's at full health for the playoffs. Nothing worse than seeing the game's greats operating at less the 100. — Bob

Update: The Capitals did not hold a formal practice today, taking the official team photo. Ovechkin participated in the photo in full uniform and officially listed as day-to-day. — Bob

SHWARBER GOES OFF
ON UMPIRE HERNANDEZ

Sunday, April 24: Phillies outfielder Kyle Schwarber was about to jog to first base with one out, down 1-0 to the Brewers in the ninth inning, but was soon ejected after arguing a poor third-strike call from umpire Angel Hernandez, slamming his bat and getting in Hernandez's face to demonstrate that Hernandez, one of the most unpopular umpires in Major League Baseball, the blown calls Schwarber received from both sides of the plate:

My take: Hernanadez is garbage. Every game. I'm not sure who runs the umpires' union, but that person should run them all. How has this guy not been fired? It's guys like Hernandez who are responsible for robot umpires. Home team's down 1-0 against a tough closer and he rings a guy up for the second out on a clear ball away. Unacceptable. Yet there he'll be in four days, ruining the game for another two teams (and the fans) with his amorphous strike zone behind the plate. — Bob

SASAKI LESS THAN PERFECT,
BUT STILL GETS WIN

Sunday, April 24: Chiba Lotte Lions pitcher Roki Sasaki entered Sunday's game have retired 52 consecutive batters over parts of three starts, including a perfect game on April 10. But that streak ended on the first pitch against the Orix Buffaloes, yielding a single. 

Sasaki, 20, went on to earn the win, moving to 4-0 on the season, giving up two earned runs over five innings on six hits, three walks and four strikeouts. 

Sasaki clearly didn't have his best stuff Sunday, but here's a quick video showing his electric fastball and splitter from his perfect game:

My take: That's an impressive streak for anyone, considering only Johnny Vander Meer has come anywhere close with two consecutive no-hitters. Kind of shows how fickle pitching is, too, going to unhittable to a nearly 2.0 WHIP in your next game. Pitched out of it though. — Bob

YANKEES FANS CELEBRATE WALKOFF
WIN BY THROWING GARBAGE

Saturday, April 23: The Yankees scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to defeat the Guardians, 5-4, Saturday, but the win was marred by unruly fan behavior. Isiah Kiner-Falafa had doubled to tie the game and Gleyber Torres scored him on a gap drive to right-center field. As the ball rolled to the wall, a Yankees fan in the outfield bleachers threw what looked like a beverage can at Guardians outfielder Oscar Mercado:

More things were thrown after Mercado reacted and Yankees players eventually had to go to that section of the field to tell the fans to stop. 

Center fielder Myles Straw said of New York's fans postgame, “Brutal. Worst fan base on the planet.” Straw engaged with one fan, who was heard mocking and taunting right fielder Steven Kwan the play before after Kwan was prone on the grass after crashing into the wall on the Kiner-Falafa double. Straw added that, "... bringing violence and throwing stuff on the field and cheering when someone else gets hurt, that’s not OK, and that’s when I draw the line.” 

My take: No place for it. Nothing should ever be thrown onto the field under any circumstance (except for the occasional home-run ball). No surprise, though. I've personally witnessed some vile, heinous behavior by fans at Yankee Stadium. They're the Bills fans of MLB. — Bob

CABRERA SINGLE PUTS
HIM IN 3000 HIT CLUB

Saturday, April 23: It was looking as if Miguel Cabrera was snakebit in finally getting his 3000th hit. Thursday night, he was intentionally walked in his last plate appearance and Friday's game was rained out. But it was inevitable for the 39-year-old Tigers great, stroking a single to right field in his first at-bat Saturday against Rockies right-hander Antonio Sanzetela:

Cabrera becomes the 33rd player in Major League Baseball history to achieve the feat, and did so in front of the home faithful at Comerica Park. He is also the seventh to also have 500 home runs, joining Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Albert Pujols, Eddie Murray, Alex Rodriguez and Rafael Palmero, the latter two known steroid users.

My take: Kudos to one of this generation's best hitters. Still a rare thing. Robinson Cano's next on the list but he's over 300 knocks away, and I don't think he's going to get there. Behind Cano ... Yadier Molina at 2,116. He's definitely not getting there. — Bob

MAYFIELD STATUE AT OU BEARS
LITTLE RESEMBLANCE

Saturday, April 23: Oklahoma University unveiled a statue of Baker Mayfield Friday which bears little likeness to the beleaguered Browns quarterback. Created in memory of Mayfield's Heisman Trophy win in 2017, it was unveiled prior to the OU's spring game and will be placed in the university's Heisman Park, which honors the seven Sooners to win the honor (Kyler Murray's statue is not done yet).

The statue was roundly criticized online for its odd representation of Mayfield, from the reference to the Heisman Trophy pose to the lack of a helmet, but the most was to the face of the athlete himself, with people claiming the statue looks like late actors Montgomery Clift or James Dean and comic-book Clark Kent. Anything but Mayfield himself.

My take: Talk about kicking a man when he's down. This reminds me of the old Lucille Ball statue in Jamestown, N.Y., which looked nothing like her in the worst way (it was known as "Scary Lucy"). The Mayfield statue's odd, for sure, but there's a beautiful irony in it missing the mark. — Bob

LEHNER HAVING SEASON-
ENDING KNEE SURGERY

Saturday, April 23: The Golden Knights are going to have a tough sled through the playoffs without their No. 1 goalie. Robin Lehner will have season-ending surgery and Vegas will have to rely on backup Logan Thompson.

Thompson, a 25-year-old rookie, has appeared in 15 games, going 9-5 with a 2.56 goals-against average and .920 save percentage. Lehner appeared in 44 games this season, struggling through a knee injury. He finished 23-17-2 with a 2.83 GAA and .907 SV%.

Vegas is not assured a playoff position. With four games remaining, they have a two point lead over the Canucks for the final wildcard spot.

My take: It's an unfortunate circumstance for Vegas, which dealt Marc-Andre Fleury to Chicago in the offseason to hand the reins to Lehner. Now they'll have to try to make the playoffs and win a Stanley Cup with a rookie goaltender and the very average Laurent Broissoit. Remember that whole thing about having two No. 1 goalies? Kinda necessary these days. — Bob

CANADIENS ICON
LAFLEUR DIES

Friday, April 22: Guy Lafleur, a five-time Stanley Cup champion and one of the most dynamic players to ever skate in the National Hockey League, has died. He was 70. No cause of death has been announced. 

The Hall of Fame winger and Quebec native was drafted first overall by the Canadiens in 1971 and played immediately. After three seasons flirting with 30 goals, Lafleur exploded for 53 goals and 66 assists in 1974-75, beginning a string of six consecutive 50-goal seasons, including a 60 goal campaign in 1977-78, and covering the Habs' four-consecutive Stanley Cups run from 1976-79. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1977. Equally adept at passing, Lafeur never had a season where he had more goals than assists. Injuries began to plague him in 1980, which robbed him of some of his trademark speed, but he still managed to have four consecutive 27+ goal seasons. Frustrated with Montreal management, who refused to trade him, Lafleur retired in 1985. Three years later, already in the Hockey Hall of Fame, he made a comeback with the Rangers and after one season in New York, he finished out his 17 season career with two years on the Nordiques. In all, he won three Art Ross trophies as the league's leading scorer and was twice awarded the Hart Memorial Trophy as league MVP.

In 1,126 career games, "The Flower" recorded 560 goals and 793 assists, a career shooting percentage of 16.2 percent and more than double even-strength goals to power-play goals. 

My take: Tragic. So soon after Mike Bossy, too — the two best pure scorers of the 1970s. Lafleur was the most noticeable hockey player to me as a kid. I saw a lot of Bossy once we move to Update New York, but the Canadiens were on so much during playoffs over their four-straight Cup run that I got to marvel at Lafleur just blowing by guys with his insane speed and finesse to match. Plus, he had the flow. Rest in Peace to one of my all-time favorites.  — Bob

BELL GETS BACKLASH  
AFTER DEEBO COMMENTS

Friday, April 22: Le'Veon Bell received a lot of backlash online after tweeting his comments on the Deebo Samuel situation. Samuel has asked the 49ers to trade him, saying he no longer wants to run plays out of the backfield. Bell, who starred with the Steelers as a runner and receiver out of the backfield had a controversial take, saying "if Debo doesn't play this year, 1 thing the 49ers gon make sure of is to feed someone else the ball & make it seem as if they didn't need Debo..when in reality, we all know the truth...but if Debo doesn't play, they'Il try and make it seem like the "back up" is just as good."

Many believe Bell was disrespecting James Conner, who had 1,470 total yards and 13 touchdowns in 2018, while Bell was sitting out due to a contract dispute. Conner was as effective as Bell and thus it appeared to some that Bell disrespected Conner with the 'back up is just as good' line.

Bell eventually went to the Jets on a lesser deal than he was offered by the Steelers and has bounced around the league after demanding the Jets release him in his second season in New York. Conner had two injury-riddled seasons with the Steelers in 2019 and 2020 before having a dynamic season with the Cardinals in 2021, scoring 18 total touchdowns playing in primarily short-yardage situations.

My take: Bell is the last person to give Samuel contract advice, self-immolating his career at 26 years old. He knows what he's talking about being a two-way threat, but Conner just made some bank in Arizona and Samuel's going be one of the top-paid receivers in the NFL — in San Fran or somewhere else — while Bell trolls the want ads with just 142 touches on his resume over the last two seasons. — Bob