Musings from a Florida vacation after enjoying sun, sand and surf, plus watching television and my growing waistline. …
The geriatric crowd has arrived at the beach. I witnessed walkers and wheelchairs navigating near the sands of Sarasota.
Florida has a new state song: “Florida, Where the Sawgrass Meets the Sky.” I read it twice and tried to sing it once. I sounded like an American Idol first round reject.
With or without Johan Santana, Twins pitchers and catchers report to spring training in Fort Myers on February 17. The prediction here: Santana is gone before April, probably to the New York Mets.
Eddie Guardado, who pitched for the Twins from 1993-2003, signed a one year contract with Texas earlier this month. The former American League all-star, 37, had elbow surgery in 2006 and had 15 relief appearances last season with a 7.24 ERA pitching for Cincinnati.
Minneapolis native Walt Jocketty, former baseball executive with St. Louis, has joined Cincinnati as special advisor to president and chief executive officer Bob Castellini. Jocketty will advise and assist Castellini in every facet of baseball operations, according to a Reds news release.
Bert Blyleven, again turned down in voting for the baseball hall of fame, can find support among friends and fans. The former Twins pitcher and now TV color commentator is among the franchise’s most popular alums ever.
Former Vikings Cris Carter, Randall McDaniel and Gary Zimmerman, all three of whom played together in the early 1990s, are pro football hall of fame candidates in February. Carter played in eight consecutive Pro Bowls as a wide receiver from 1993-2000. McDaniel set an NFL record by participating in 12 straight Pro Bowls as an offensive guard from 1989-2000. He was also named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame team of the decade for the 1990s. Zimmerman played in four Pro Bowls while with the Vikings as an offensive tackle from 1987-1992.
The Tampa Bay Rays have plans and hopes for a new 34,000 seat retractable roof stadium in St. Petersburg, moving the club from its dome home, Tropicana Field. The project hasn’t been finalized but there’s talk of opening the stadium in 2012.
Former Gopher tennis player Gene Sperling is an economic adviser to Hillary Clinton. Sperling also advised former president Bill Clinton.