Wells out of element: in suit, tie
David Wells will mark the 11th anniversary of the perfect game he pitched for the New York Yankees against the Minnesota Twins in a most unusual place:
In the press box, behind a microphone, providing analysis for TBS's coverage of another Yankees-Twins game.
Behind enemy lines, in other words.
"I was never really fond of the media throughout my career, because of the way I saw certain things written, certain things that were said, and how a lot of the reporters kind of stereotype us," Wells said. "I always fought with those guys."
Despite his on-and-off feuds with members of the media, Wells was considered a good quote during his playing career, a well of colorful observation TBS is trying to tap.
Wells made his TBS debut on May 3, a Boston-Tampa Bay game.
"A great experience," he said. "I think it was the first time I ever sat and watched a nine-inning game without getting up and going into the clubhouse and watching golf, like a lot of guys do."
Asked if he encountered any surprises in his first game as a broadcaster, Wells said: "Yeah. Suit and tie."
• ROSE-COLORED GLASSES -- To the surprise of no one, Pete Rose said he thinks Alex Rodriguez deserves induction into baseball's Hall of Fame despite his admission of using steroids while with the Texas Rangers.
"I'm willing to give a guy a second chance," Rose said in a radio interview on "The Dan Patrick Show." He also said steroid use is a worse offense than betting on your own team to win.
"When you take steroids, you have a direct outcome on the game," Rose said. "That's the integrity of the game. And when you can change records when you do something illegal, it's just not right. ... Baseball records are sacred. If you do something illegal to surpass those records, it's just not good."
Nor is betting on baseball, no matter which team you wager on.
• SPIN CITY -- It is interesting to note how two Web sites -- one for Southern California fans, another for UCLA followers -- dealt with this week's O.J. Mayo follow-the-money story. Compare the headlines:
On BruinsNation.com: "Yahoo! Sports: Tim Floyd Gave Cash to OJ Mayo."
On ConquestChronicles.com: "Yahoo Sports Continues Their Vendetta Against USC."
Partisan politics are alive and well in Los Angeles.
• CHANGE AGENT -- For enterprising journalists -- or fans with Internet access -- there is a new way to keep track of agent Drew Rosenhaus' clients: Twitter.
Rosenhaus recently tweeted about Detroit running back Kevin Smith, who drew laughs by predicting the Lions would make the playoffs next season.
"I like Kevin Smith's guarantee that the Lions will make the playoffs in '09," Rosenhaus wrote. "You must have confidence to succeed in the NFL, and Kev has it."
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