The world according to Jim:
• This observation is in no way intended to take the situation lightly, but consider: When is the last time a professional athlete was a prisoner of war? That, in effect, is Brittney Griner’s status in Russia.
The WNBA All-Star is currently imprisoned and will remain so at least through May 19, Russian authorities confirmed Thursday. She was apprehended at a Moscow area airport in February on drug charges that might or might not (and, let’s face it, probably aren’t) legitimate. And how scary is it to be a high-profile American, and a black, gay female, in a country where tolerance for all of the above has reached historic lows? …
• It is heartening that, over time, Griner’s situation has become a front-in-mind topic. But it’s one more reminder of the imbalance and unfairness inherent in a WNBA pay scale that forces players overseas in the wintertime to make a living commensurate with their abilities. Who knew, when the European seasons began, that by late February players would be evacuating in the face of war – or, in Griner’s case, unable to get out in time? …
• If you have access to ESPN’s “30 for 30” podcasts, look for the episode “The Spy Who Signed Me,” from November 2019. It featured interviews with Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi on their experiences playing in Russia, and particularly the somewhat shadowy procedures and people involved in matching up players with teams. It’s a reminder of a time when playing there was merely weird, rather than frightening. …
• The best part of working from home – as so many of us still do these days – is the NCAA Tournament on the TV in the home office.
The worst part of working from home? The NCAA Tournament on the TV in the home office. During a close game, how can anyone expect to get anything accomplished? …
• Notre Dame’s success in the First Four and then Friday against Alabama reinforces my long-standing theory: St. Patrick’s Day is too big and too important to be confined by just one day. That’s why I celebrate St. Patrick’s Week. (And yes, I wore green while composing this sentence.) …
• Yes, I know, the Irish’s official colors are blue and gold. Humor me. …
• So how many Lakersz fans have determined that watching HBO’s “Winnin’ Time,” the entertaining but over-the-top and sometimes outright fictional series about the ’80s Magic Johnson championship teams, is more entertaining than the drudgery of watching the 2022 Lakers?
I suggested “Losin’ Time” to describe the current team. Someone else on Twitter suggested “Wastin’ Time.” I like that one better. …
• Although it must be said: The depiction of Jerry West in the first two episodes – crazed and alternately angry and depressed – wasn’t just over the top, it was borderline defamatory. And it is not surprising that those who know him or have worked with him have leapt to his defense. …
• I will say this, though: Michael Chiklis’ depiction of Red Auerbach seemed true to life. By all accounts, he really was an arrogant jerk. …
• Speaking of the Lakers, they play Saturday night in Washington, Russell Westbrook’s former workplace. Given his very public complaint over being heckled with the nickname “Westbrick,” how long do you think it’ll take for his former fans to yell it out? He forgets that letting people know something bothers you is the surest way to make sure you’ll hear it on the road. …
• What’s worse? “Westbrick?” Or just being called “trash,” as Patrick Beverley did the other night in Minnesota? …
• Is anyone else convinced Tom Brady’s “retirement” was just a decoy? …
• Joc Pederson has joined the Giants, and now the guy who grew up in Palo Alto says he was a Giants fan as a kid. (And never mind that his dad Stu played briefly for the Dodgers.) My question? If Joc could get those good ol’ boys in the South to wear pearls as an Atlanta Brave, what kind of fashion statement will he unveil for Bay Area fans?
(Maybe a necklace of creamsicle sticks?) …
• The NHL trade deadline is Monday. If you are a Ducks fan, and you proudly sport a Hampus Lindholm or Rickard Rakell jersey, you might want to check out that “Jersey Assurance” service Fanatics advertises. (Of course, if you purchased it more than 90 days before a trade, you’re apparently out of luck.) …
• One more reminder that the business of baseball can be extremely unsavory: A ruling in a class-action suit earlier this week bolstered the claim of advocates for minor-league players that MLB teams – who actually employ those players – violated minimum wage and overtime laws. It also said players were full-year employees rather than seasonal and should be paid for 12 months, not just the April-to-September minor -league season.
So, naturally, there are suggestions that MLB might further cut the number of minor-league teams in response, and might specifically target California. You’re not surprised, are you? (And just when we got the “California League” name back, instead of “Low-A West.”) …
• A companion to this is a bill introduced by California state senator Josh Becker that seems to be the minor-league baseball equivalent of state Sen. Nancy Skinner’s 2019 “Fair Pay to Play Act” that upended the NCAA’s amateurism model. It would reduce minor-leaguers’ contractual obligation from seven years to four and uphold minor-leaguers’ NIL rights (which should sound familiar).
We await further saber-rattling from MLB. But a reminder to those hoping for major systemic change: Baseball has an antitrust exemption. The NCAA doesn’t.
@Jim_Alexander on Twitter