Today’s topic is sportsmanship.
You remember sportsmanship, don’t you? You play hard. You respect your opponents and your teammates. You play the game with class.
I bring this up in the wake of Thursday’s incident during a spring training game between the Giants and the Brewers. In the first inning, Giants lefty Barry Zito drilled a fastball into the middle of Prince Fielder’s back. The retaliatory pitch came about six months after Fielder insulted the Giants with an elaborate home-run celebration.
In case you have forgotten, or never saw the incident, this is how it went down: On Sept. 6 at Miller Park, Fielder hit a 12th-inning walk-off homer in Milwaukee’s 2-1 victory. As he rounded the bases, Fielder untucked his jersey. As he jumped on home plate, his teammates collapsed around him like bowling pins. It was quite a show. It was something that would draw a flag and a fine for taunting in the NFL.
Shortly after Fielder’s celebration was replayed on TV highlight shows, Angels outfielder Torri Hunter, one of the classiest guys in sports, chastised Fielder.
“If I was a pitcher, I’d be (ticked) off,” Hunter told reporters in September. “My mouth would be wide open. I’d be shocked. Baseball is not like the NFL, where you can celebrate in the end zone. You’ve got to keep your cool, play the game. You can’t do that.”
Not everyone agrees.
Listening to ESPN Radio’s “Mike and Mike Show” early this morning, Mike Golic said, essentially, that everybody needs to lighten up. Fielder, Golic said, was just celebrating a game-winning homer. He wasn’t showing up the Giants.
As for the argument that Fielder crossed the line of a long baseball tradition that says you don’t celebrate at the expense of your opponent, Golic said it’s time for baseball to get over that too.
Hmm, I wonder if Golic would like to see his own kids doing what Fielder did? I wonder if Golic, a Notre Dame alumnus, has forgotten about sportsmanship?
Trivia time
Prince Fielder and his father, Cecil Fielder, combined to set what rare home-run record? (Answer below)
Polling
Wednesday’s “Lunch Special” poll asked if the Rockies will buck history and come out of the gate strong in April. Nearly 62 percent said the Rockies would get off to a “decent start,” finishing April above .500. About 36 percent expect a fast start, with 16 or more more wins in April.
Quotable
“Good for him and good for them, but this stings a lot. Not just for me, but for this club. This was one of those games you’re not going to forget about.” — new Avalanche player Peter Mueller after his team (the just-traded former Avs player) Thursday night.
Blog spot
Mike Klis, The Post’s Broncos beat writer, says that free agency might not be sexy for the Broncos, but it should help the team in the trenches. Check out his take at
In case you missed it
The Russians are still red-faced over what they perceive as their Olympic pratfall.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin blasted Russian sports officials at the Vancouver Games despite what he described as “generous state funding.”
According to The Associated Press, Putin told a government meeting that Russian sports federations must have broader power and specific responsibilities, more sports facilities need to be built, and wages of coaches must be increased to prevent a similar humiliation when Russia hosts the 2014 Games in Sochi.
“I already hear some say that … it’s not the most important thing to be among the leaders, the most important thing is to make a good showing,” Putin said. “I must tell you it’s not so. You go into the games not just to sweat, but to win.”
The Russians collected just 15 medals from Vancouver, finishing in 11th place in the medals count.
Trivia answer
Prince and Cecil are the only father-son combination in major-league history to each hit 50 home runs in a single season.
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1720 or psaunders@denverpost.com Hungry for more? .
