From athletic overspending to flailing Fuego
There’s nothing like a hot summer day to simply empty a notebook and see what comes out of it.
Instead of a column dedicated to one topic, how about a cornucopia of tidbits just to while the day away and give you something to think about? Well, there’s always a first time for everything, and I suppose we’ll see together how this plays out.
Here’s a quote that sounds familiar: “The environment within Athletics … did not support a culture of compliance or fiscal responsibility.”
Think that quote from a May 3 Associated Press article belongs to the University of New Mexico athletic department? Nope. Try Washington State University.
It has a $67 million deficit, accumulated over the last few years. Much of that is attributed to spending on renovations to Martin Stadium and a new football operations building, along with less TV revenue than expected. It seems that athletic departments across the country can’t find the money for a good accountant. But they can find it for whatever project they like, though.
Santa Fe High’s boys basketball team is 23-1 so far this summer, and that’s without rising sophomore stud J.B. White after he injured his hand during the UNM camp two weeks ago. So, anyone who thinks the team will revolve around the 6-foot-6 wing who recently announced he received a scholarship offer from UNM might have to reconsider that thought. The Demons will be one of those teams under the radar in Class 5A, which will be the largest class in the state come July 1, but expect them to turn some heads come January and February.
Is it pitching or the park? The Santa Fe Fuego are making an argument for both during their recent homestand with the White Sands Pupfish, the worst team in the Pecos League. Santa Fe scored 77 runs in four games at Fort Marcy Ballpark, but it took a two-run rally in the bottom of the ninth of Sunday’s game for the Fuego to win three out of four. Wait, what? You mean 77 runs wasn’t enough for an easy four-game sweep?
Playing in the bandbox that is Fort Marcy will skew the pitching lines for even Clayton Kershaw, but it’s clear Santa Fe didn’t invest enough in its staff, which has allowed doublefigure runs in nine of the last 11 games. But the Fuego are 6-5 in that stretch, so maybe they have enough hitting to overcome those ills on the hill. Maybe?
Keeping with the Pecos League, the Garden City Wind can’t wait for Friday night in Santa Fe.
Garden City is 5-5 against the Fuego this season, but 0-22 against the rest of the league. Unfortunately, Friday is the beginning of the end of the season series, as the two teams will play six straight games before going their separate ways for the remainder of the year.
Perhaps Garden City should petition to play only the Fuego in the 2019 season.