Tag: That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Latino Power The Top Sluggers in Baseball

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The Los Angeles Angels first baseman Albert Pujols poses for a portrait on Feb 18, 2020 at Tempe Diablo Stadium in Tempe during last year’s spring training in Arizona (Orange County Register file photo)

Latino Power The Top Sluggers in Baseball

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

The 2021 baseball season is scheduled to begin on April 1. Today, among all active players, the top four (4) active sluggers with the most home runs are all Latinos. Albert Pujols (Angels) 662, Miguel Cabrera (Tigers) 487, Edwin Encarnación (Free Agent) 424, Nelson Cruz (Twins) 417.

They all play with teams in the American League and are the only active Latino players with 400 plus home runs. 1-Albert Pujols (Dominican Republic) will begin the last year of a $240 million ten-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels. Pujols played 2001-2011 with the St Louis Cardinals and since 2012 to date with the Angels.

This would be his 20th season. His most impressive statistic is his runs batted in, which shows his great and consistent hitting excellence. Pujols is #3 among the all-time RBI leaders in history with 2,100 runs-batted-in.

Only Henry Aaron (2,297) and Babe Ruth (2,213) is ahead of him. He doesn’t like to talk about his statistics while playing, he always told me; “hablaremos de eso cuando me retire, pero no ahora” -trans: “when I retire we can talk about it, but not now”.

Pujols is #5 on the All-Time home run list behind, Barry Bonds, Henry Aaron, Babe Ruth, and Alex Rodríguez.  Pujols begins 2021 with 662 home runs; no other active player is remotely close. 2-Miguel Cabrera (Venezuela) Detroit Tigers. He is also at the twilight of his career, one of the top clutch hitters of his generation.

I once asked Cabrera how he manages to hit so well – over .360 with runners in scoring position: “I don’t know, but I have the same approach every time I come to the plate.” Cabrera began with the Florida Marlins in 2003 and played there until 2007.

From 2008 until today with the Detroit Tigers Cabrera is the ninth player in history to win three (3) consecutive batting titles. In 2012 became first player since Carl Yastremski (1967) to win the Triple Crown. He has won most hitting awards. Hard working and an easy going player that is also a future Hall of Famer.

Cabrera is a lifetime .313 hitter in his 18 years of play. Cabrea begins 2021 with 487 round-trippers. 3-Edwin Encarnación (Dominican Republic) at the time of this article he is a Free Agent and looking to return for his 17th Major League Season.

The Chicago White Sox declined their $12 million club option for his services last November, after a disappointing 2020 season he played 44 of the 60 game-schedule with the White Sox hit .157 with ten home runs and 19 RBIs.

During his years in Toronto Encarnación produced the best power numbers at the plate and is considered the best Designated Hitter in the history of the Blue Jays. Played with the Reds, Blue Jays, Indians, Mariners, Yankees and White Sox. Colorful and happy-go-lucky player, after he hits a home run he sticks out his right arm and holds it parallel to the ground as he rounds the bases, the fans called it “Walking the Parrot” – he said, he is fine with it.

He stands today with 424 home runs. 4-Nelson Cruz (Dominican Republic) Cruz is back this season as the Designated Hitter for the Minnesota Twins, a heavy-laden home run line-up. The Twins own the current single season record for most home runs by a team with 307 in 2019.

From 2005-2020 a 16-year career for “Nelly “considered one of the most dangerous and impressive home run hitters in the game, many of his shots flirting with the 500 foot distance are real mammoth shots.

When younger players talk about ‘launch angle’ it is like they’re talking about this man swing, Cruz always swings for the fences. There is no joke to his nickname, “Boomstick”. One of his most memorable quotes: “I always have high expectations for me” At 40 years of age, Cruz is still a very dangerous hitter. He will begin 2021 with 417 home runs.

MLB is altering the baseball slightly this season. A memo was sent to all 30 clubs citing an independent lab that found the new balls will fly one to two feet shorter on balls hit over 375 feet.

However, this will not affect Pujols, Cabrera, Encarnación or Cruz, because for these types of power guys when they square a ball, it would not matter if the ball is heavier or not, it will fly. Latinos not active (all-time home run list) #4 Alex Rodríguez 696, #9 Sammy Sosa 609, #13 Rafael Palmeiro 569, #14 Reggie(Martínez) Jackson 563, #15 Manny Ramírez 555, #17 David Ortíz 541, #20 Ted Williams 521 #31 Adrián Beltré 477, #34 Carlos Delgado 473, #37 José Canseco 462, #40 Vladimir Guerrero 449, #46 Carlos Beltrán 435, #47 Juan González 434, #55 Alfonso Soriano 412.

There are many more great Latino players who retired with less than 400 home runs’ Longest Home Run ever? George Herman “Babe” Ruth (NY) in 1921 hit a 575 foot blast at Navin Field in Detroit; there are stories of Ruth hitting some even longer.

Stay well and stay tuned.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play announcer for the Oakland A’s Spanish radio Network and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Updated report on the condition of Tiger Woods

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Tiger Woods is resting at a UCLA Medical Center Hospital after being involved in a roll over accident in Rancho Palos Verdes on Tue Feb 23, 2021 (AP News file photo)

Tiger Wood seriously injured in car accident

By Amaury Pi-González

According to Alex Villanueva, Sheriff of LA County at 7:12 this morning in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, Tiger Woods was injured as he was driving a 2021 Genesis SUV on loan from the Genesis Golf Invitational Tournament, on his way to Rollins Hills Country Club for a promotional shoot for the Discovery Channel on golf with New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees, and Justin Herbert, Quarterback of the LA Chargers.

Woods was the only person involved in the accident. His injuries are to both of his legs and ankles and not life threatening, according to the first report. He is in serious condition and remains in the hospital this afternoon where he underwent surgery. The Sheriff said that Tiger Woods is lucky to be alive.

LA Times updated reports: “Mr. Woods suffered significant orthopedic injuries to his right lower extremity that were treated during emergency surgery by orthopedic trauma specialists at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, a level 1 trauma center,” Chief Medical Officer Anish Mahajan said in the statement. “Comminuted open fractures affecting both the upper and lower portions of the tibia and fibula bones were stabilized by inserting a rod into the tibia.”

Tiger Woods was late for this appearance and according to witnesses he left his hotel at a rate of high of speed and minutes later within quarter of a mile lost control of the SUV, went across traffic unto the opposite side of the road, crossed the median island and flipped at least once to end in a ravine, where the fire department and the police were able to get to rescue him and removed him from the car through the windshield, then put him in a gurney and rush him to the nearest hospital, Harbor UCLA a facility famous for their state of the art trauma center.

As he was being rescued, Tiger was speaking and asked them to call his manager and tell him of what happened. Tiger Woods is an Iconic sports figure in the US and the whole world; he is tied for first with 82 PGA tournaments and 15 Majors, just three behind Jack Nicklaus for the record.

At 45 years of age, Tiger was rehabbing from his fifth back surgery at the time of this accident. Tiger was introduced to the world in the Mike Douglas TV Show when he was 2 years old and already had a golf swing and delighted Douglas and the other guest Bob Hope and Jimmy Stewart.

Eldrick Tont “Tiger” Woods revolutionized golf and made it popular to the masses, especially minorities around the world. We will know more in the next few days how serious are these injuries to his legs and if this could end his sensational golf career. Tiger Woods did for Golf what Babe Ruth did to Baseball, Michael Jordan did to Basketball and Muhammad Ali for Boxing.

Everybody here at sportsradioservice.com wishes Tiger a fast recovery. These injuries could be career threatening, but if anybody can make another comeback, it would be Tiger Woods.

Stay well and stay tuned.

Join Amaury for News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Giants Casali to back up Posey as Bart opens season in Sacramento; A’s Murphy expected back by opening day

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Former Cincinnati Reds catcher Curt Casali joins the San Francisco Giants in the back up roll to start the 2021 season. Catcher Joey Bart who started most of 2021 will open the season in Triple A Sacramento (AP News file photo)

On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury, How smart is the move sending San Francisco Giants catcher Joey Bart to Triple A Sacramento for more instruction. Last season Bart hit .233 and struck out 41 times.

#2 When Giants catcher Buster Posey opted to sit out the 2020 season due to Coronavirus concerns Bart was made the starting catcher. With all the high expectations of Bart he lapsed at the plate and will not be with the big club to start the season.

#3 The Giants acquired catcher Curt Casali as the back up catcher for Posey. Casali has been in the big league since 2014 playing for Tampa Bay before moving onto the Cincinnati Reds 2018 and now joining the Giants this season. Casali hit .167, 12 hits, no homers and 3 RBIs. Casali joins the Giants mostly for his defensive skills and experience working with pitchers behind the plate.

#4 Amaury, the A’s moved on acquiring players like Trevor Rosenthal pitcher, DH Mitch Mooreland, infielder Elvis Andrus, pitcher Sergio Romo, and resigning Yusmerio Petit after former A’s players Marcus Semien and Liam Hendriks had left are these big enough pieces to fill their shoes?

#5 A’s catcher Sean Murphy is recovery from lung surgery and is expected to be ready to start on opening day. The A’s will be looking at his back up Aramis Garcia who will be doing a lot of the catching in spring training. Garcia hit .143, six hits, five runs, five RBIs. Garcia spent the 2020 season in the minors.

#6 Amaury, the Oakland A’s Fanfest is normally at this time of the year but due to Coronavirus there have been no fanfests for the last two seasons normally held at Jack London Square.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez does News and Commentary podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast Tue Feb 23, 2021 by Sports Radio Service | Free Listening on SoundCloud

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Warriors The Run TMC Years

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Run TMC consisting of Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond, and Chris Mullin (from left to right) all three players had their jerseys retired by the Golden State Warriors (photo from Sports Illustrated files)

Warriors: The Run TMC Years

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Even when they were not making the playoffs, the Run TMC years for the Golden State Warriors were very entertaining and always enjoyed great support from Bay Area fans at the Oakland Arena.

They usually sold out for every game. With point guard Tim Hardaway, guard Mitch Richmond and Hall of Famer Chris Mullin as forward, a dynamic trio, who adopted that name from the rap group TMC for their “run and gun” style. They had great chemistry with an up-tempo offense that fans loved, it was fun. Those were loyal fans that never saw a title, but supported the team 100X100.

It was the San Francisco Examiner who sponsored a “Name the Warriors Trio” contest, after the trio of talented players showed so much agility and coordination, that became what most of the Warriors fans were talking about at that time. The newspaper took the best suggestions to the players, who then selected “Run TMC” from the hip hop group Run DMC .

The high scoring trio was first broken-up in 1991 when Richmond was traded to Sacramento, a trade which Coach Don Nelson said that he would never make again. After their success with the Warriors all three had their jerseys retired; Chris Mullins with the Warriors, Tim Hardaway with Miami and Mitch Richmond with Sacramento, as he would be the only of the three to win an NBA championship, with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2002.

Tim Hardaway over a decade career, (his first 6 years with the Warriors) is arguably deserving of the Hall of Fame. His son Tim Hardaway Jr. is also a point guard, now a veteran playing with the Dallas Mavericks

Mitch Richmond won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award with the Golden State Warriors in 1989, one of four (4) Warriors to take home the award. The others were Rick Barry (1966), Jamal Wilkes (1975) and Chris Webber (1994) last Warrior to win the award.

Chris Mullin 16-years NBA Hall of Fame career, has coached at his Alma Matter St John’s University, worked as executive and General Manager for the Warriors, executive advisor for the Sacramento Kings, basketball analyst at ESPN and is a Bay Area resident.

Since the Run TMC years, especially since 2015, the Warriors have become one of elite and most successful franchises in the NBA, but those memories of the lean years and the excitement that this trio of players brought to the Oakland Area and to Warrior fan will always be engraved in their memory.

Stay well and stay tuned.

Amaury was the Spanish radio play by play announcer for all the games of the Golden State Warriors in the 1990’s. He was inducted to the Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame in 2010.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Tokyo’s Olympic President Steps Down after Sexist comments

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Yoshiro Mori former Prime Minister of Japan and Chief of the Tokyo Olympics who resigned for sexist remarks against women is the topic of That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary (New York Times file photo)

Tokyo’s Olympic President Steps Down after Sexist comments

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Yoshiro Mori former Prime Minister of Japan, who was the Chief of the Tokyo Olympics resigned after an uproar during an Olympic meeting when he said that women talk too much, which he found annoying. Mori, 83 years old announced his resignation.

Taking Mr. Mori’s place is Japan’s Olympic Minister Seiko Hashimoto who will become the new chief of the Tokyo Olympics. She is a bronze medalist and seven-time Olympian, with competition experience in both the summer and winter Olympics. “I will spare no effort in making the Tokyo games successful,” she told the Tokyo 2020 executive board after it voted on her becoming its new president. “It has to be a safe and secure games that we have to remain first and foremost and consider how we can control COVID-19”

Originally the 2020 Olympic Games were postponed until the summer of 2021 because of the covid pandemic, and they’re on schedule to open the games this summer. Olympic Games were cancelled during World War I in 1916 and World War II in 1940 and 1944, however they were never postponed. This was the first time they were postponed.

Late December 2020, Associated Press reported that the official cost of the Japan Olympics was up 22 percent to a total of $15.4 Billion dollars.

NBC is the official station for the Olympics and schedule to televise from Open to Close, from July 23, until August 8.

Stay well and stay tuned.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Oakland A’s lead play by play talent on flagship station 1010 KIQI Le Grande San Francisco

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Athletics Have Their Closer and their Designated Hitter

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Former San Diego Padre reliever Trevor Rosenthal seen here throwing during Sep 13, 2020 game against the San Francisco Giants at Petco Park in San Diego. Rosenthal has signed on with the Oakland A’s for $11 million for the 2021 season (AP News file photo)

Athletics Have Their Closer and their Designated Hitter

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

Closer: After losing Liam Hendricks to free agency as he landed with the Chicago White Sox, the Oakland A’s acquired veteran closer Trevor Rosenthal for $11 million and one year. Pending a physical he will be wearing the Green and Gold very soon in Spring Training. Rosenthal is 30 years old and during eight years as a closer showing 132 saves.

During the 2020 season he pitched for Kansas City and San Diego and recorded 11 saves. Between Kansas City and San Diego he made 23 appearances saved 11 games, with a 1.90 ERA.

He enjoyed his best years with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2014 when he saved 45 games and 2015 with 48 saves as an All Star. Designated Hitter: With the departure of Khris Davis, going to Texas a few weeks ago, the Athletics have picked-up veteran Mitch Moreland for one-year.

Moreland is a first baseman and designated hitter, and will probably be their DH most of the time and when Matt Olson needs a rest at first base, he will provide the back-up. Mitch Moreland is an 11 year career with Texas, Boston and San Diego, combined numbers are .252 average with 176 home runs and 588 runs-batted-in.

Spring Training: Frankie Montás, Oakland’s Opening Day starter last season is experiencing flu-like symptoms, Melvin said: “He’s several days into it,” Melvin said during a Zoom call before the A’s first workout of spring on Wednesday. “He does feel the effects of it.

He was having some symptoms, more flu-like than probably anything else at this point. He’s going to be a little bit behind.” Catcher Sean Murphy who enjoyed a very good rookie season in 2020 is out of action and not in Spring Training.

According to manager Bob Melvin, the catcher woke up one morning a couple of weeks ago and noticed discomfort while breathing. He went to the hospital and later that day had surgery.

David Forst, the team’s general manager described the injury as a “freak thing” that could have been caused by something as simple as a hard cough during his sleep that led to a pulmonary bleb (a small air pocket or blister) that created a small hole in his lung, Doctors said that while the surgery was not necessary, it was recommended to avoid a recurrence.

Young lefty A.J.Puk threw and felt “free and easy” coming back after shoulder surgery. His would be a very important part of a young and talented rotation, if he can make the team this season, something the organization will like to see in 2021.

Stay well and stay tuned.

Join Amaury Pi Gonzalez for That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast each Tuesday mornings at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Realignment A’s Class A Team in Vermont affected

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Image of the Oakland A’s minor league affiliate the Vermont Lake Monsters a team that is on the bubble of folding due to MLB directives of closing minor league teams (image from thinkvermont.com)

Realignment: A’s Class A Team in Vermont affected

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Major League Baseball announced the elimination of more than 40 affiliated teams (Minor Leagues). This leaves 120 affiliated teams which breaks down to four per each MLB franchise.

MLB announcement mentions that all 120 teams have signed what is now a Professional Development License, and these agreements are going to be for at least ten years, not the two or four years they previously had.

According to MLB, many affiliates will be in much closer geographic proximity. On average, the report says that the MLB clubs will now be over 200 miles closer to their Triple-A affiliates.

Looks like that the previous long-standing names of “International League, “Pacific Coast League”, “Midwest League” and Florida State League will disappear according to this new alignment. The local economical impact will be substantial in these cities that now will not have any minor league team.

Among those cities the Oakland Athletics affiliate, the Vermont Lake Monsters located in Burlington, Vermont. They played their games at the University of Vermont’s Centennial Field, but were inactive last year because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Lake Monsters have been an affiliate. Class A Short Season, of the Oakland Athletics since 2011.

Bernie Sanders, US Senator for the State of Vermont, who last year showed his displeasure with the proposed elimination of the Vermont minor league franchise said: “If the multimillionaire owners of Major League Baseball have enough money to pay hundreds of millions in compensation to a single superstar baseball player,” Sanders said, “they have enough money to prevent 40 minor league teams from shutting down in Vermont and all over this country.”

The State of Vermont has a population of 623,989 as of 2019; Burlington is the most populated city with 42,545 residents. The elimination of this team is bound to hurt the local economy in many ways.

This is the statement by Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred: “We are excited to unveil this new model, which not only provides a pipeline to the Majors, but continues the Minor Leagues’ tradition of entertaining millions of families in hundreds of communities.

In modernizing our Minor League system, we prioritized the qualities that make the Minor Leagues such an integral part of our game while strengthening how we develop professional athletes on and off the field.

We look forward to demonstrating the best of our game throughout local communities, supporting all those who are working hard to grow the sport, and sharing unrivaled technology and resources with minor league teams and players.”

The release says that all minor leagues in this affiliated system will have salary increases of 38 to 72 percent. It is expected that MLB will take over merchandising, broadcast and sponsorship rights, splitting net revenues 50-50 with the minor league clubs.

Definitely not the news that most people like to hear, especially baseball fans and people involved in the business of the national pastime. All over the country and especially at this time, where the economy is still bleeding from the covid-19 pandemic.

Stay well and stay tuned.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the vice president of the MLB Hispanic Heritage Hall of Fame Museum and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: First Good News for the A’s in 2021 -Now we wait–

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland A’s team president David Kaval stands by the Howard Terminal location at the Port of Oakland on Wed Feb 10, 2021 where the Oakland A’s hope to fulfill their dream of a new ballpark (photo by Bay Area News Group)

First Good News for the A’s in 2021 -Now we wait–

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–The Oakland A’s were looking for some good news, since they won the Western Division of the American League last year, they eliminated the Chicago White Sox during the Wild-Card Series, and then were eliminated by the Houston Astros.

Nevertheless, this week brought the best good news to the Athletics when a Judge of the Alameda County Superior Court ruled in favor of the A’s in a lawsuit that would have derailed the team’s plan of construction of the Howard Terminal waterfront stadium.

Things got delayed, but always an optimist Athletics President Dave Kaval said, after the ruling: “We were going to try to open by 2023. That obviously slipped. How far it slipped, I can’t answer that I don’t know yet. It depends on if the city can even get this to a vote this year. It depends on the other priorities the city council might have.”

There are a lot of moving parts here. We still have not reached first base, with the mission to score a new ballpark. The attention focused on the Pandemic and vaccination and all that, the attention for the project has cooled-off, understandably.

The Environmental Impact Report has to be approved by the City of Oakland. A few weeks ago A’s pitching great Dave Stewart submitted a $115 million bid to buy the city’s share, which was a bigger hit than the cost to buy the Athletics at $85 million, and that could complicate the whole enchilada. There are still a lot of moving parts regarding the construction of the Howard Terminal ballpark for the Athletics.

Like the great CBS Walter Cronkite used to say: “And that’s the way it is”

Stay well and stay tuned.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play announcer for the Oakland A’s Spanish radio flagship station 1010 KIQI Le Grande San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s get leg up on Howard Terminal Stadium; Superior Court Judge and AB734 ruling gets A’s on first base

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland A’s president David Kaval says he’s glad the A’s won this first step to move forward towards a new Howard Terminal Ballpark at Jack London Square (file photo from the Mercury News)

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez and Joe Hawkes

Sports Radio Service staff writers

OAKLAND–The Oakland A’s caught what A’s team president David Kaval would call a huge break just when the future of the A’s new ballpark development had no new developments since March.  Wednesday an Alameda Superior Court judge ruled for the A’s that the A’s need to prepare an environmental impact report and meet the qualifications of the impact report .

Once the report is ready the A’s are still subject to complaints and legal challenges for example traffic and parking , and air quality issues. The A’s would have 270 days from any complaints or challenges filed. The coalition filed an appeal with the court on Wednesday right after the judges ruling.

AB734 a state bill passed by then Governor Jerry Brown in 2018 helped expedite arenas, stadiums and ballparks built in California. It helped the Sacramento Kings expedite their arena Golden One Center after the Kings met challenges in their developments. The courts moved the challenges through working or basically overruling those who had complaints and challenges such as parking, transit and air quality issues.

The A’s could very well enjoy that same cut through the red tape challenge and get to the next step and see groundbreaking of their new stadium located at Howard Terminal at Jack London Square finally get started.

The A’s have face many challenges to get the stadium project off the ground. In March the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association, Schnitzer Steel, the Harbor Trucking Association all filed a court lawsuit challenging the A’s on building at the port. The complaint said that in doing so would eliminate port jobs and put businesses there out of business.

Mike Jacob vice president of the general counsel of Pacific Merchant Shipping Association said he is hopeful that the court will agree “that the Howard Terminal project should not be certified for fast tracking and the A’s follow the standard environmental impact review process.”

Kaval said that the city of Oakland is responsible for releasing the environmental impact report and it’s completion. The most recent delays regarding the A’s Howard Terminal development was due to the pandemic and the opposing groups lawsuits.

Joe Hawkes is a staff writer and Amaury Pi Gonzalez does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: NBA tells Mavericks Owner Play the National Anthem

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

In front of a limited amount of fans the Atlanta Hawks and Dallas Mavericks stand for the national anthem on Wed Feb 10, 2021 in Dallas (photo from Dallas Morning Star)

NBA tells Mavericks Owner Play the National Anthem

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

According to history, the tradition of playing the National Anthem at sporting events began in 1918, during the seventh inning of game one of the World Series between the Chicago Cubs and the Boston Red Sox.  The NBA was not founded until 1946.

Mark Cuban, billionaire-owner of the Dallas Mavericks said back in November his team will not play the National Anthem. The NBA sent a memo to all teams in the league that they all must play the National Anthem, to what Cuban responded: “We are good with it”.

And that was the end of that story. The NBA is a private business and they have the right to remind their teams/owners of their policy. The NBA sent the notice to all teams, but it was written because of the Dallas Mavericks and their owner.

Mark Cuban is one of the most passionate team owners in the NBA. Last year he was fined $500,000 for saying that director of officiating Ed Rush wasn’t fit to manage a Dairy Queen. He has said that the referee system in the NBA is a decade-long broken training system. He has been fined for at least $2.6 million.

When in Dallas, Cuban is always sitting on the Mavericks side, and has said he enjoys the whole experience and feels he is part of the team, like another player and often warms-up with the team prior to a game.

He is as competitive and passionate as any owner in the league. It reminds me of the once owner of the New York Yankees, George Steinbrenner.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the vice president for the MLB Hispanic Heritage Hall of Fame  Museum and does News and Commentary on http://www.sportsradioservice.com