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Baseball leads league in funny stories

By Wayne Stewart For the Mirror Baseball has had a wealth of funny and colorful characters. Take Kirby Higbe, who was a big league pitcher from 1937 through 1950. He had an intense fear of flying. On one flight, Brooklyn teammate Pee Wee Reese tried to console him, saying there was no need to fret because when a person’s number is up, it doesn’t matter if you’re in the air or on the ground. Higbe refused to be placated. “Suppose I’m up here with a pilot, and my number isn’t up, but his is.” One day a letter from a female admirer arrived at Higbe’s house. ...

Second, third, fourth chances can help an NFL QB

By Rob Maaddi The Associated Press Sam Darnold is realizing his potential on his fourth stop. Baker Mayfield and Geno Smith did the same. Jared Goff found his way on his second team. Some quarterbacks just need a second chance. Or third. Or fourth. Darnold was supposed to be a stopgap player in Minnesota, signed to a one-year, $10 million deal to keep a seat warm for J.J. McCarthy. But the rookie first-round pick suffered a season-ending knee injury in August and Darnold has seized the opportunity. The Vikings (5-0) are the NFC’s only undefeated team going into their bye week ...

Fouling Clark is just part of the game

Caitlin Clark was tormented by fouls during her first WNBA season. People assume women’s basketball is getting more violent with the introduction of this heavily covered rookie. But the fact is women’s basketball has always been physical; people are just now watching more closely. I have played basketball since I was eight years old. In the 12 years I have played, I have seen brutal injuries because of the competitive nature of women athletes. In middle school, my coach used to throw basketballs at the girls’ heads. Although weird, he thought that made us tougher and ...

After 3 weeks, NFL running more

By Rob Maaddi The Associated Press The NFL isn’t going back to old-school, smashmouth running football. Even though rushing yards are up and passing numbers are down over the first three weeks of the season, it’s too soon to call it a new trend. “It’s still early with the sample size,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. “But it is something that we looked into because it is noticeable, and it is a really big difference. But we’ll continue to monitor that and what we are trying to do, though, is be efficient on offense. Hit your explosive plays. Take care of the ...

Tua’s injury latest blow to Miami fans

By Ira Kaufman For the Mirror Last Thursday night’s between Miami and Buffalo was one of the worst losses I can remember a team having early in the season. On so many levels, the Dolphins’ horrendous loss to the Bills, coupled with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s injury, has dealt a crippling blow to the franchise and its fan base. The Dolphins hold a special place in the hearts of South Florida sports fans and across America as the only team to finish unbeaten in NFL history (17-0 in 1972). The Dolphins were founded in 1966 and played their first four seasons in the AFL ...

Injuries forcing NFL into next-man-up attitude

By Rob Maaddi The Associated Press The next man up sees plenty of action in the NFL. Injuries already are accruing across the league, knocking out several star players and forcing teams to turn to backups and reserves. Everyone has to be ready because “one play away” is more reality than a cliche in football. The best teams at the end of the season often are the ones who have the depth to overcome injuries early on. The inactives read like a Pro Bowl roster. Russell Wilson hasn’t made his debut for Pittsburgh because of a calf injury sustained in the preseason. Jordan ...