Mets’ Alonso buys custom 9/11 cleats for teammates
Associated Press
NEW YORK — Pete Alonso has been full of surprises during a memorable rookie season with the Mets. For fans in his new home city, his gesture Wednesday night might be the biggest home run yet.
Alonso coordinated the purchase and production of custom 9/11 cleats for Mets players to wear on the 18th anniversary of the terrorist attacks. The shoes were painted red, white and blue and included “We will never forget” and lettering for first responder units.
Following the Mets’ 9-0 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks, Alonso said he wanted to design hats the Mets could wear on the field, but that idea was rejected by Major League Baseball, which hasn’t allowed the Mets to wear first responder hats during games since 2001.
Inside the numbers
This marks the first time that Alabama and South Carolina have faced each other since the 19th-ranked Gamecocks stunned the topranked Crimson Tide 35-21 in 2010. That marks the last time Alabama lost to a team ranked outside the top 15.
The University of Georgia’s starting offensive linemen average 6-foot-5 and 328.6 pounds. That makes this the largest Georgia offensive line in program history . ... Mississippi State’s Kylin Hill has rushed for 320 yards to rank second among all Football Bowl Subdivision players. Appalachian State’s Darrynton Evans ranks first with 333 yards rushing . ... Florida has gained at least 500 yards in four of its last six games. The Gators had 500-plus yards of total offense
“I think it’s kind of sad that first game back, they’ve kind of shot it down every single year since,” Alonso said. “It’s real unfortunate. So a way to kind of get around that was the cleats.”
Alonso said he went around the Mets locker room and collected shoe sizes and preferred brands for each teammate.
He said he didn’t contact Major League Baseball about the cleats.
“I feel like if Major League Baseball kind of got their hands on it, it may not have been approved,” Alonso said. “But I’m really happy that we kind of banded together here in the clubhouse and made something cool happen.”
The cleats were just the latest in Alonso’s efforts to assist those impacted by the attacks. After winning the All-Star Home Run Derby in July, Alonso donated $50,000 of his $1 million prize to the Tunnels to Towers Foundation. in just three games from 2015-17 . ... Auburn defensive end Marlon Davidson has made 41 consecutive starts. The only Football Bowl Subdivision player with a longer active streak is Louisiana Tech offensive lineman Ethan Reed with 42 straight starts . ... Tennessee is off to its first 0-2 start since 1988. The Volunteers lost their first six games that season before surging down the stretch to finish 5-6 . ... Missouri gave up just 30 yards rushing in a 38-7 victory over West Virginia last week. Missouri hadn’t yielded fewer yards rushing to an FBS opponent since limiting Colorado to minus-14 in 2009.
Upset watch
Kansas State will be a dangerous 7 ½-point underdog when it heads to Mississippi State. Kansas State lost 3110 to Mississippi State last year but looks like an improved team in its first season
Prior to the first pitch Wednesday night, children who lost parents or grandparents to 9/11-related illnesses ran to each position before being joined by the Mets’ starters. Alonso gave autographed baseballs to the two children at first base.
“It’s not just the victims, it’s the scars left behind, like someone missing their mom or missing their dad,” Alonso said. “For me, I can’t imagine what that’s like. The toll isn’t necessarily all taken on that day, it’s progressively after because there’s not someone there in their family. It’s different from then on.”
Both the Mets and Diamondbacks wore first responder hats during batting practice, then lined up on their respective baselines alongside firefighters, police and EMTs prior to the national anthem.
The Mets ended the game with nine runs on 11 hits. under Chris Klieman, who won four Football Championship Subdivision titles at North Dakota State. Kansas State trounced FCS program Nicholls 49-14 and Bowling Green 52-0 in its first two games. The Wildcats have rushed for over 300 yards in each of their first two games.
Impact performers
LSU quarterback Joe Burrow justifiably garnered much of the attention after throwing for 471 yards and four touchdowns Saturday in a 45-38 victory at No. 12 Texas, but his receivers also deserve plenty of praise. Justin Jefferson scored three times against Texas and is the SEC’s leading receiver thus far with 14 catches for 250 yards and four touchdowns. LSU has three of the SEC’s top six receivers in Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase (10 catches, 168 yards, 1 TD) and Terrace Marshall Jr. (10-154-4).
Associated Press
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Athletes at California colleges could hire agents and sign endorsement deals under a bill the state Legislature sent to the governor on Wednesday, setting up a potential confrontation with the NCAA that could jeopardize the athletic futures of powerhouse programs like USC, UCLA and Stanford.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has not said whether he will sign it. But the NCAA Board Of Governors is already urging him not to, sending him a letter Wednesday saying the bill “would erase the critical distinction between college and professional athletics” and would have drastic consequences for California’s colleges and universities.
“Because it gives those schools an unfair recruiting advantage, (it) would result in them eventually being unable to compete in NCAA competitions,” the letter said. “These outcomes are untenable and would negatively impact more than 24,000 California student-athletes across three divisions.”
Newsom has 30 days to either sign the bill, veto it or let it become law without his signature.
The bill would allow student-athletes to hire agents and be paid for the use of their names, images or likenesses. It would stop California universities and the NCAA from banning athletes that take the money. If it becomes law, it would take effect Jan. 1, 2023.