Was His Goal a Dedication to Numb the Senses?
In what might be termed a public-relations problem, the Colombia soccer player who scored the only goal in Sunday’s 1-0 victory over Ecuador in a World Cup qualifying match dedicated it to two convicted cocaine kingpins.
Said striker Anthony De Avila to reporters: “I’d like to dedicate the goal to all those who for some reason or another are deprived of their freedom. I’d like to dedicate it to Miguel and Gilberto Rodriguez [Orejuela.]”
Deprived of their freedom is right. The brothers were alleged to head the Cali drug cartel before their 1995 capture and subsequent conviction. For that reason they’re now in jail.
De Avila currently plays for the New York-New Jersey MetroStars but previously played for a team in Cali, which the Rodriguez brothers were reputed to be backing.
Tuesday the MetroStar publicity office sent out a release in which De Avila avowed that “while I do not deny making these comments” he feels they were taken out of context, doesn’t condone drug use, etc. . . .
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Trivia time: When Ron Guidry pitched nine shutouts in 1978, whose American League record for left-handers did he tie?
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To Russia with love: Following the NHL tradition whereby each member of the championship team gets to take the Stanley Cup home to show it off to the townspeople, four Detroit Red Wings are taking it home to Mother Russia.
The cup is scheduled to be there Aug. 16-18, accompanied by Igor Larionov, Slava Kozlov, Sergei Fedorov and Slava Fetisov.
However, defenseman Jamie Pushor is to have it in Lethbridge, Canada, on Aug. 15. The NHL is trying to find a flight that will get the cup to Moscow for a charity hockey game the next night.
“Unfortunately, we don’t have any red-eye flights from Canada to Russia,” said Phil Pritchard, head of security for the cup.
None leaving from Lethbridge, that’s for sure.
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To err wasn’t divine: When umpire Al Clark ejected Baltimore’s Cal Ripken for arguing a called third strike recently, it was Ripken’s first ejection in the ‘90s.
Ripken said later he regretted his behavior. In a career that goes back to 1981, he has only two other ejections, in 1987 and 1989. Drew Coble, the umpire who bounced him the last time, said it was like throwing God out of Sunday school.
Said Clark: “I’m Jewish. I don’t go to Sunday school.”
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Trivia answer: Babe Ruth’s.
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And finally: Signaling a victory for the people, the Atlanta Braves have lifted their ban on bringing food into Turner Field.
The no-food policy went into effect when the stadium opened, leaving fans no choice but the pricey refreshment stands. Turner himself said he couldn’t believe the prices, and fans sneaked in all the snacks they could.
Determined not to be fooled, ushers ferreted out incoming foodstuffs. They reportedly also confiscated items such as formula from mothers with babies and low-sugar snacks from diabetics.
What could the Braves do but give up before some usher tackled a baby?
“People who were concerned about it really had a real concern,” team President Stan Kasten said. “The easiest thing to do was to go back and change the policy.”
