At the Miami Open yesterday morning, waiting with the media to go onto the stadium court for the ribbon cutting ceremony, I thought of Bud Collins.
Bud gave me my introduction to the world of tennis reporting back in the ’90s, when he would get me a one-day press pass, usually on the first Saturday, for the tournament on Key Biscayne. I had gotten to know him (personally) through his travel writing, as he would occasionally send me stories of his travels between Grand Slams, the photos taken by his talented wife Anita. Sitting in the shade of the press box at Crandon Park, I would listen to his stories, like the time he coached tennis at Brandeis University and had Abbie Hoffman on his team. Though Bud – despite his attention-getting outfits – was a quiet, unassuming, remarkably kind man who earned not just the respect but the affection of everyone he met, including the workers in the media cafeteria.
I mentioned his name to some of the reporters standing around me yesterday, and the stories started coming. “The first time I met him,” said Harvey, “it was like meeting my hero.” “He would count the shots in every rally,” Michelle said. “We’d look over to Bud after a long one and he’d say “27.” Immediately I wondered how many times I had been gabbing while Bud had sat silently trying to keep track of the shots.
During the seventh-inning stretch of yesterday's Astros-Marlins game (which the Fish won 12-6), fans sang "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" followed by "Deep in the Heart of Texas."
If J.T. Realmuto had to go - and if you're the best player on the Marlins, that seems to be your fate - I'm glad he ended up with the Phillies.
Apparently Derek Jeter is finally going to get rid of his bete noir, the Home Run Sculpture, moving it, according to reports, outside Marlins Park.
I have never understood the antipathy toward this artwork. It is a whimsical, inspired piece by the artist Red Grooms that has given Miami’s baseball stadium more distinction than any of the teams that have played before it. You could say it’s gaudy but that quality makes it all the more appropriate for the Magic City. Its removal will leave a big hole, something that the Marlins and their fans are depressingly familiar with.
The network executives are surely hoping for a latitudinal series (Red Sox-Dodgers) while I would love to see a longitudinal one (Brewers-Astros).
The U.S. Open was bookended by controversies involving chair umpires. The first was criticized for being too compassionate (coming out of his chair to give a player a pep talk) and the second was accused of being too strict. If only each could have worked the other’s match.