Soccer’s A-Rod? Fire to find out
Juan Pablo Angel has 14 goals and four assists for the New York Red Bulls in his first season in MLS, but sports fans haven’t seemed to notice. The Colombian forward has the looks, he plays in the biggest market and he speaks perfect English. He just lacks the hype. What if David Beckham were having the sort of season Angel is having? “[The media] would be doing cartwheels,” Red Bulls coach Bruce Arena said. “Juan Pablo is very deserving of recognition. Besides A-Rod, he’s having one of the great seasons of all athletes in the New York metropolitan area. It’s sad to see him go unrecognized.” Angel makes his first appearance at Toyota Park on Saturday against the Fire..
— Luis Arroyave
A flood of support for Hall
Actress Judy Pace-Flood is on a crusade to have her late husband, Curt Flood, enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Flood played 15 seasons, mainly with the Cardinals, but his most impacting legacy was his daring to challenge Major League Baseball’s reserve clause in 1969, which eventually resulted in free agency. Flood died of cancer at 59 in 1997. “All players in all sports should thank him every night,” said his widow, who decries the fact that many of today’s players are not even familiar with what Flood did on their behalf. Pace-Flood, who played the role of Gale Sayers’ wife in the movie “Brian’s Song,” is in town for the cast reunion dinner at the Harris Theater in Millennium Park.
— Fred Mitchell
NFL union recruits Duerson
Tuesday’s lineup of ex-NFL players scheduled to testify before the Senate Commerce Committee to denounce the league’s pension and disability plan now includes Daryl “Moose” Johnston. And since the ex-Dallas fullback was a late addition, the union has added ex-Bears safety Dave Duerson to defend the system, according to a source. Union chief Gene Upshaw and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell also will have opportunities to testify. Duerson, a member of Mike Ditka’s 1985 Super Bowl champion Bears, sits on the union retirement board, which oversees the benefits process. Duerson called his ex-coach “a hypocrite” in June. Ditka has referred to Duerson in unflattering terms as well.
— Fred Mitchell
