For “First Call” on Monday, former Steelers star Antonio Brown is a father again. A pro sports coaching peer is challenging Mike Ditka on his anthem-kneeling stance. Major League Baseball’s ghost runner rule has already ripped a hole in the space-time continuum.
‘Iron Mike’ is mad
Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Ditka isn’t holding back when it comes to his views about kneeling during the national anthem.
The former NFL tight end and Chicago Bears coach is now the commissioner of the X League. That’s a women’s tackle football organization that was previously known as the Legends Football League.
The former Aliquippa and Pitt star told TMZ the idea of his league’s players kneeling during the anthem makes him angry.
“If you can’t respect our national anthem, get the hell out of the country,” Ditka said. “That’s the way I feel. Of course, I’m old fashioned, so I’m only going to say what I feel.
“You don’t protest against the flag and you don’t protest against this country who’s given you the opportunities to make a living playing a sport that you never thought would happen,” Ditka continued. “So, I don’t want to hear all the crap.”
Now a former NBA coach is firing back at Ditka. Stan Van Gundy was once the bench boss for the Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic and Miami Heat. Currently he is an analyst on TNT. And he sees things a different way.
Ditka (and many others) say “if you can’t respect our national anthem, get the hell out of the country.” What should we do with those who don’t respect the Constitution which says we have the rights of free speech and freedom of assembly? https://t.co/VpAlJgR10o
— Stan Van Gundy (@realStanVG) July 26, 2020
Ditka says he doesn’t have final authority over what would happen to players who kneel in the X League. But he apparently resents the act.
The X League will feature eight teams. It is scheduled to kick off in April 2021. Pittsburgh is not initially slated to have a team.
‘Himmothy’ has a baby
It’s been a busy week for former Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown.
He retired. Then demanded a return to the NFL. And he started promoting a new rap album.
Also, he became a father again.
This is the fourth child for Brown and his fiancée Chelsie Kyriss.
Via Popculture.com, Kyriss posted a photo of the baby on her Instagram story with the initials, A.K.B. She said the baby was born on Thursday. Brown’s post showed him smiling for the camera with the child and the script, “Family all that matters,” adding the hashtag “Allure.”
The website explains that “Brown announced he and Kyriss got engaged in March. Days later, he told fans in an Instagram Q&A session that she is pregnant with their fourth child together, reports The Blast. The two have had a rocky relationship, but reconciled during the week of the Super Bowl earlier this year.”
So congrats to the entire A.B. brood! Personally, I think for a boy “Himmothy Jr.” would’ve been a lovely name. But “Allure” or whatever else A.K.B. may stand for works.
This didn’t take long
We knew the new Major League Baseball “ghost runner” rule to start extra innings was going to cause some funky official scoring scenarios.
And it didn’t take long to manifest.
On Saturday night, the Kansas City Royals started the 10th inning tied 2-2 against the Indians in Cleveland.
Kansas City’s 10th began with pinch-runner Brett Phillips on second. He moved to third on pinch-hitter Erick Mejia’s sacrifice bunt. Maikel Franco then delivered a fly to deep center, easily scoring Phillips for what would prove to be the winning run after the Indians failed to counter in their half of the 10th.
Interestingly, though, after Phillips scored, Kansas City hitter Nicky Lopez followed with a walk. But he was then gunned down trying to steal second base.
So as The Athletic’s Jayson Stark pointed out, the entire inning took place without an official at-bat occurring.
The strangest but truest extra inning of the year:
The #Royals managed to score a run in the 10th today - despite zero official at-bats!
Ghost runner on 2nd.
Sac bunt
Sac fly.
Walk.
Runner thrown out stealing.Baseball! (In 2020!)
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) July 26, 2020
Even in baseball terms, 2020 is as weird as it gets.
The former ‘Sully’
Before Mike Sullivan was “Sully” in Pittsburgh, there was forward Steve Sullivan. He was with the Penguins in the 2011-12 season.
Now he’s the interim general manager of the Arizona Coyotes.
Former GM John Chayka terminated his contract with the franchise over the weekend. Arizonasports.com reports he is leaving for a job outside of hockey entirely. So Sullivan is taking over as the club heads out to Edmonton for the rebooted 2020 season.
Former Penguin Rick Tocchet is the coach of Arizona. And Phil Kessel is on the team as well.
Sullivan had been the assistant general manager of the organization and the GM of the Tucson Roadrunners. That’s the team’s AHL franchise. Plus, he has been overseeing the Coyotes’ amateur player development staff.
Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or via X. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.
