Former Series MVP Wetteland accused of molesting a 4-year-old
John Wetteland, Most Valuable Player of the 1996 World Series, has been charged with sexual abuse of a 4-year-old girl. As reported by the Dallas Morning News, the former closing reliever of the Texas Rangers is accused of molesting a relative at his home in Bartonville, Texas, in 2004 and two other times over a two-year period. An affidavit by the victim that was filed with Denton County police stated that Wetteland forced the girl “to perform a sex act upon him.” Wetteland, 52, pitched in the major leagues from 1989 to 2000. He was with the New York Yankees in ’96, prior to Mariano Rivera taking over as closer in what would be a Hall of Fame career.
Michigan coach Harbaugh offers scholarship to 13-year-old quarterback
Michigan Wolverines football coach Jim Harbaugh was so impressed with video of 7th-grade QB Isaiah Marshall that he offered him a scholarship. A few 8th-graders have been offered athletic scholarships from major colleges, but Isaiah, 13, is believed to be the youngest ever to receive such an award. Marshall, who attends McArthur Academy in Southfield, Mich., is 5-8, 155 pounds. His brother, Brian Marshall, is a running back for Northwestern.
Between the Lines: Psychologists have expressed concern about the dangers of children becoming celebrities. Isaiah’s parents say they limit his social-media involvement, but you have to wonder what’s next. How close will college sports get to robbing the cradle?
Clemson QB Lawrence claims he’s a victim of fake tweet supporting Trump
After he and his teammates attended a fast-food luncheon at the White House, Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence was surprised to see this tweet attributed to him: “President Trump got all our favorite foods. It was the best meal we ever had. Then we go and see the coastal elite media trashing it for not being organic vegan. We’re football players, not bloggers. This was a perfect blue collar party.”
Lawrence tweeted: “I never said this by the way. I don’t know where it came from. However, the trip to the White House was awesome!” TMZ released a video showing Lawrence making a similar statement. By late Tuesday afternoon the fake tweet had been deleted.
Elway says Case Keenum is ‘short-term fix’ as Broncos QB
A year ago the Denver Broncos were happy to sign Case Keenum, the miracle-maker of Minnesota, to be their quarterback. They gave him a 2-year contract for $36 million. But there’s almost no chance the 30-year-old QB will get an extension. After a disappointing 2018 season (18 TD, 15 INT, 81.2 passer rating), Broncos CEO John Elway said this week, “Case is probably a short-term fix . . . Quarterbacks need to be developed. You don’t find them ready-made.”
Dear John: You should know it’s not wise to undermine your quarterback. You’ve decreased his trade value, and you’ve made it difficult for him to be a team leader if you can’t find an upgrade for next season. And by the way, there was no need for you to say hiring Vance Joseph as head coach was ‘a mistake.’ People are beginning to wonder if working for you is a dead end.
Nagy unhappy with double-doink Parkey appearing on Today show
Chicago Bears coach Matt Nagy did not approve of his placekicker, Cody Parkey, speaking on NBC’s Today about his agony over missing a 43-yard field goal that ricocheted off the goalpost and then the crossbar and cost the team a playoff victory against Philadelphia. “We always talk about a ‘we’ and not a ‘me’ thing,” Nagy said in his season-closing press conference. “We always talk as a team. We win as a team and lose as a team. I didn’t necessarily think that was much of a ‘we’ thing.” Nagy apparently was unhappy with Parkey not informing him in advance of the appearance and then saying on the air, “Football is not who I am, it’s what I do.” Long-time NFL reporter Peter King thought Nagy “is off-base here.” King said on Pro Football Talk: “Who cares if a guy goes on the Today Show in the midst of his personal pain? I think it’s an overreaction by Nagy.“ But siding with the coach was Tim Cowlishaw, on ESPN’s Around the Horn: ‘Is Cody Parkey going on the Today show because it’s therapeutic? Or is he trying to capitalize on being that guy who hits all the uprights and all the crossbars?”
Between the Lines: This rebuke by Nagy makes it clear that Parkey has botched his last kick for the Chicago Bears.
Jerry Jones says Cowboys had the wrong footwear for divisional playoff
Jerry Jones believes claims by the Los Angeles Rams that one reason they gained 273 yards rushing and won their divisional playoff is that the Dallas Cowboys were “tipping” their moves on defense. The Rams diagnosed most of their opponents’ defensive stunts by observing the hand positions of Maliek Collins and other linemen. But Jones, the Cowboys’ owner, said a bigger factor in the LA Coliseum was that “we never got traction, and I mean that literally. That was a slippery field. If we had to do it over again, we would be scrutinizing our footwear, our cleats. We had trouble digging in.”
Between the Lines: Smart coaches in college and pro football spend hours studying film to pick up pre-snap clues to what plays opponents are about to run. The Cowboys made themselves especially vulnerable by having much pre-snap motion. Stunts do not work if the element of surprise is lost.
Murray’s opening match in Australian Open may have been his last
Andy Murray, who ended a 77-year drought for British men when he won the 2013 Wimbledon, is considering retirement at 31. He entered the Australian Open, which began Monday in Melbourne, saying it could be his last tournament because he has not recovered fully from hip surgery of a year ago. After a few minutes of a pre-tournament press conference he broke into tears and left the room. When he returned he explained that he’s been in constant pain for 20 months. He can play tennis, but not at “a level I’m happy playing at. . . . The pain is too much. I don’t want to continue playing that way. I tried pretty much everything I could to get it right. That hasn’t worked.” Once ranked No. 1 in the world, the three-time majors winner opened the year playing in the Brisbane International, where he was eliminated in the second round. He did not make it past the first round of the Australian Open, though he played valiantly, for four hours, in losing in five sets to Roberto Bautista. “If this was my last match, it’s an amazing way to end,” he said. “I gave literally everything I had.” He was limping at times but stayed competitive with his masterful drop shots. He’s trying to decide between leaving the tour now to have a more radical hip operation or postponing surgery to try to compete in July’s Wimbledon.
Between the Lines: Most tennis players at 31 are beyond their prime years. Murray is considered one of the Big Four of his sport: Roger Federer (37), Rafael Nadal (32) and top-ranked Novak Djokovic (31) being the others.
Patriots secondary has a new star: J.C. Jackson, undrafted rookie with a checkered past
J.C. Jackson is a late-season revelation as an undrafted rookie cornerback for the New England Patriots. He played well in his first start, Dec. 2 against Minnesota, and on Dec. 16 he held Pittsburgh’s Pro Bowl receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster to 4 catches for 40 yards. In Sunday’s divisional playoff against the Los Angeles Chargers he had primary coverage on Mike Williams and limited him to 5 catches for 68 yards on 11 targets. Veteran Jason McCourty, whom Jackson beat out of a starting job, said, “He’s elite as far as getting the ball, attacking the ball. He can read the ball as well as a receiver.” Coach Bill Belichick said, “He’s been very dependable and gotten better every day.” Which begs the question: Why was he undrafted? He paid the price for being arrested three years ago in Gainesville, Fla. Jackson, who’s 23, was charged in April 2015 with burglary and home invasion with a deadly weapon after he and two other men entered an acquaintance’s apartment. Police said Jackson quickly left, whereupon one of the other intruders pointed a gun at the resident and two visitors and stole $382. Jackson was acquitted, but he withdrew from the University of Florida before playing a game. After playing a season for Riverside Community College, he was highly recruited by major colleges. He chose Maryland and played there in 2016 and 2017. He opted out of his senior season to declare for the 2018 NFL draft. But leery of character issues, no teams selected him. However, the Patriots invited him to training camp for a workout and signed him.
Between the Lines: Another case of Belichick gambling on a talented athlete other teams shun because of off-field behavior. Aaron Hernandez and Josh Gordon come to mind. But Jackson’s record has been spotless since his acquittal.
Colorado State coach Bobo gives back a $100,000 raise after a 3-9 season
Mike Bobo, coach of the Colorado State Rams, has suffered through the worst season of his four-year tenure. His team went 3-9 in 2018, after he was hospitalized in August with a peripheral neuropathy, nerve damage that caused temporary numbness in his feet. Bobo, 44, considered that no excuse. He felt he did not deserve a raise, so he turned down the automatic $100,000 increase. “I’m the head football coach, and I believe accountability is a two-way street,” he said. Bobo’s contract calls for him to receive a $100,000 raise every year, regardless of performance, through 2022. He earned $1.8 million in 2018. By amending his contract he will repeat that figure in 2019. “Being the head coach I wanted to take personal accountability for the 2018 season,” Bobo said. Colorado State Athletics Director Joe Parker said the gesture “really speaks to the character of Mike Bobo and how he feels about the leadership of the program.”
Dear Coach: Talk about putting money where your mouth is. This is a brilliant move on your part. You’ve accumulated enough cash to not miss a 5.5% salary bump. This will keep alumni from being restive after a disappointing season.
Packers hired LaFleur as head coach despite failure as offensive coordinator for Titans
The Green Bay Packers’ hiring of 39-year-old Matt LaFleur as their head coach surprised many NFL insiders, including Peter King of NBC Sports Network. “Matt LaFleur had a little more going for him before he went to Tennessee,” King said. “It was not a great year he had in Tennessee. He didn’t get Marcus Mariota to play significantly better. He’s learned from some good coaches – Kyle and Mike Shanahan before Sean McVay. It’s all going to depend on what Matt LaFleur can do with Aaron Rodgers. He’s got to bring the kind of imagination to this offense that Rodgers did not see under Mike McCarthy. And also, can he command a room? He’s different from Sean McVay, who’s Mr. Sunshine. He’s a little less than a Welcome Wagon host. I’m not saying it’s a bad hire, but I thought they were going to get a little farther down the road with a couple of other candidates, including Josh McDaniels.”
Between the Lines: The Packers jumped at the chance to hire LaFleur because they were afraid he was about to get interviews with other teams.
Jason Witten confused about college rulebook
Jason Witten has drawn widespread criticism for his commentary on Monday Night Football, and ESPN may be regretting assigning him to the college football Championship Game. On the opening kickoff he showed his ignorance of the rulebook. When Clemson’s Derion Kendrick made a fair catch at the 2-yard line, the former Dallas Cowboys tight end asked: “Why’d he fair catch it?” Witten was unaware that in the college game a player can fair catch a kickoff inside the 25-yard-line, and it’s treated as a touchback, the ball to be spotted on the 25.
Dear ESPN: What were you thinking? With all the available college football experts, you choose a rookie who has never broadcasted a college game.
