UT’s Beck volunteers a bird
HOW MUCH further can we fall before we hit bottom?
Sunday, Tennessee outfielder Jordan Beck hit a game-tying double over the Georgia Tech right fielder’s head’s then gave the finger in plain and sustained form toward that outfielder as he headed to second. My dad would’ve disowned me.
But Beck, a Red Sox draft pick listed as an anthropology major — the study of what makes us human — was not even ejected, and Tennessee soon won the game. He later explained, “I was super excited.” Oh, OK. Look for it on MLB Network’s “Best Bird Flips.”
Class Dismissed, continued: White Sox manager Tony La Russa did a weird thing Thursday. With a man on second after a wild pitch, he ordered the Dodgers’ Trea Turner to be intentionally walked — on a 1-2 pitch.
Max Muncy followed with a three-run homer. He then screamed in La Russa’s direction, appearing to shout, “You f--king walk him with two strikes? F--k you, bitch!”
Muncy should be fined the max and suspended. But don’t hold your breath. Either way, he can use that clip as part of his ESPN or Fox audition reel.
Why must ESPN always divide us between racial lines? Thursday’s Texas-Oklahoma Women’s College World Series game was a good one, when ESPN cut into it to present a photo roster of previous “AfricanAmerican Players in the WCWS.” Given that there was no shortage, what was the point?
Aaron Hicks, tough to root for, may have misplaced his productivity, but he hasn’t lost his excessively selfimpressed home run pose. Thursday, after hitting his second of the season, he didn’t arrive back at home plate until early Friday morning.
Memo Giants manager Gabe Kapler: If your elimination from sight during the national anthem to protest mass shootings could eliminate even one mass shooting, I’d join you.
CC Sabathia appeared as an onfield reporter during last Sunday’s Tigers-Yankees exclusive Peacock Pay More. First time I recall him speaking into a microphone without mouthing vulgarities. And he was not only clean, but funny, especially when he candidly cracked that he couldn’t comment on pitchers running to cover first base as he’d never given it a try.