Verlander tempts fate by dating Upton
There had to be a reason for Justin Verlander's disastrous All-Star Game start, and as it turns out, that reason is unbelievably attractive.
Verlander's first-inning blowup Tuesday happened just as rumors began to swirl that the ace right-hander had snagged a prize more desirable than the Cy Young Award.
It appears the Tigers star is dating supermodel Kate Upton. Stories have been circulating in Detroit of the pair being spotted together, and the 20-year-old Upton was seen in a Comerica Park suite last week rocking a Tigers hat.
Verlander and Upton likely met this year while filming an EA Sports video game commercial.
While the curse of the hot famous girlfriend seems to be just a myth, Tigers fans hope it doesn't strike Verlander and ruin all hopes of a return to the American League playoffs.
The bigger immediate dilemma is TMZ obtained photos of Upton sipping what appears to be a beer in the suite last week. An Upton rep insisted the beverage is not beer, but declined to say what was in the cup.
A statement from the Tigers says "all patrons who appear to be under 30 years old are ID'd."
Leftovers is sure the policy is ironclad. We're positive no stadium employee, perhaps a male, would slightly bend the rules for perhaps the most attractive woman in the world who is sitting in the luxury box of the team's star player.
■ WEEKEND AT CHARLIE'S - Linda Chase wasn't ready to stop watching NASCAR with her friend and roommate Charles Zigler, even though he allegedly died in December 2010.
So Chase, 71, kept Zigler's body propped in a chair and continued to watch the races with his body each weekend for 18 months until police finally discovered the body.
For those who wonder who actually watches those cars go in circles over and over, there is your answer.
■ NEVER SAY NEVER - Former Arizona baseball star Rob Refsnyder experienced one of the greatest weeks of his life at the College World Series in Omaha, Neb., last month, winning the Most Outstanding Player award as the Wildcats defeated South Carolina in the championship series.
His experience wasn't all positive, however, as the South Korean-born outfielder thought he was the target of racism by Gamecocks fans and took to Twitter to express his anger.
"I will never live in South Carolina because they can't accept Asians playing baseball," Refsnyder tweeted from Omaha, though he quickly deleted the post.
In its place, he explained his outrage by posting: "when people make death threats to my family and myself for being a certain color or race Caused some animosity."
Then came the major league draft, during which Refsnyder was picked in the fifth round by the New York Yankees. He has been assigned to the organization's Single-A team in, wouldn't you know it, Charleston, S.C.
For the record, Leftovers would never accept an assignment in the Bahamas. Let's see if this works.
COMPILED BY ADAM HILL
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
