Julio’s new agent Terrell Owens says Holiday Inn not good enough

Matt Ryan required to provide Fiji Water so Julio can wash his dog

The Atlanta Falcons were concerned when Julio Jones became a close confidant of Terrell Owens.  Turns out they had reason to worry.  Owens is now negotiating for Jones, saying “Jimmy Sexton is out” as the All-Pro receiver’s agent.  Speaking to reporters in Jones’ driveway, Owens had much say regarding the decision by his new client not to participate in Matt Ryan’s annual passing camp in Miami.  Owens is seeking $150,000 per diem for Jones, but the main issue is the QB  wanting his receivers to share rooms in a Holiday Inn Express.  “Their economy carpet is so bumpy it’s a safety hazard,” Owens said.   “Garden view means parking lot.  You can’t be expected to be the greatest when your window overlooks a parking lot.”  Jones has other demands of Ryan, who pays for this annual reunion as a way to build chemistry with his receivers.   “First, Julio needs a private driver at all times.  . . .  I’m talking German or British luxury vehicle.   The driver must wear 100% cotton and not make eye contact with Julio.  Second, Julio needs at least three cases of Fiji Water, from an aquifer in Viti Levu, to wash his dog.  Can you even imagine having to touch a dog bathed in city water?”  Reached for comment, Ryan said: “Bumpy carpet?  What does that even mean?”

Dear Terrell: You ‘re the prototype diva receiver, which is why it took you so long to get into the Hall of Fame.  Is this the sort of representation Julio needs?

Autopsy shows Washington State backup QB was suffering from CTE when he shot himself 

Tyler Hilinski, Washington State QB who fatally shot himself on Jan. 16, was suffering from the degenerative brain disease known as CTE, which medical researchers believe is caused by repetitive brain trauma.  His parents authorized an autopsy of his brain by the Mayo Clinic, which revealed the 21-year-old athlete had Stage 1 of chronic traumatic encephalopathy.  “It was a shock to get those results and realize that the sport that he loved may have contributed to that diagnosis,” Kym Hilinski said on the Today Show.  Her husband, Mark Hilinski, said his son in weeks prior to his death had been slow responding to texting and phone calls.  “The reality was we missed it and we let him down. . .  We need to keep talking about suicide.  We need to erase the stigma.”

Between the Lines: This is the most disturbing case yet of CTE, given that Hilinski was a backup at the most protected position.  He threw just 159 passes in his college career and rushed the ball 11 times.  If his brain could be severely damaged by such minimal contact, you have to worry about everyone playing college football.

Larry Brown says Oregon State’s overuse of freshman pitcher in CWS was ‘borderline abuse’ 

Freshman Kevin Abel threw 152 pitches in two days, 247 in five days, to lead Oregon State to victory over Arkansas in the College World Series.  To many baseball observers, that was far too big a workload for a 19-year-old.  For anyone, actually.  Sports blogger Larry Brown accused Beavers coach Pat Casey of “borderline abuse.”  He argued, “You’re always going to have a hard time pulling a competitive pitcher from a game, which is why it’s on the coaches to be responsible and protect the players.  Abel was asked to do way too much in too short a time span.  Casey showed he was more interested in winning a national title than protecting the health of a valuable young pitcher.  Unfortunately this is a story all too common in the world of selfish college baseball coaches.”

Between the Lines: College coaches tend to permit much higher pitch counts than minor-league managers.  Most baseball scouts feel high-school pitchers are likely to have better health and longevity if they sign with the pros, almost all of whom have a limit of no more than 100 pitches per game.

Human body found in beer cooler at Braves’ SunTrust Park

An employee of the Atlanta Braves found a human body in a beer cooler at SunTrust Park.  The body was identified as that of a third-party contractor.   “This is an active investigation,” Cobb County police officer Sarah O’Hara told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.   “So I am unable to speculate whether or not foul play is a factor.”

Dear Officer O’Hara:  A body turns up in a beer cooler and you think it’s possible nobody broke any laws?   I wish you worked for the IRS. 

Tigers fire pitching coach Bosio for ‘racially charged’ comment

The Detroit Tigers fired pitching coach Chris Bosio for “racially charged comments.”   An African-American clubhouse attendant overheard a conversation in which Bosio, 55, used the term “monkey” and thought it was a slur against him.   When General manager Al Avila asked him about the incident, the coach insisted he was referring to Daniel Stumpf, a white pitcher on the team who, he claimed, was nicknamed “Spider Monkey.”  When Avila dismissed him, Bosio said: “I’m absolutely crushed.  I can’t believe it got to this point.”  He’s hired an attorney to sue for wrongful termination.  Avila maintained his punishment “was appropriate.  There were things involved.  But I can’t comment any further.”   Main problem with Bosio’s alibi is that Stumpf said he was unaware he had a nickname.  Witnesses heard Bosio say “that monkey over there.”   Bosio could have kept his job by apologizing to the young worker, but he refused.

Between the Lines:  Bosio is well respected, 11-year MLB pitcher and a member of Joe Maddon’s staff when the Chicago Cubs won the 2016 World Series.  But there are reports he became a disruptive force, leading to his dismissal in Chicago, and he quickly wore out his welcome in Detroit.

Hope Solo says soccer in U.S. ‘has become a rich white kid’s sport’

Hope Solo, star goaltender of the U.S. women’s soccer team, said her country has little chance of becoming a world power in the sport because in America “soccer has become a rich white kid’s sport.”  The two-time Olympic gold medalist said soccer is now so expensive for youths to play in this country that it draws scant participation from African-Americans and Hispanics, the main talent corps for the World Cup, for which the U.S. failed to qualify this year.  “My family would not have afforded to put me in soccer if I were a young kid today,” she said in a press conference in New York.  Landon Donovan, long-time star of U.S. men’s soccer, agrees with her position.  “If you’re a parent who makes 30,000, 40,000 a year,” he said, “how can you possibly afford to pay $3,000 to $4,000 for your kid to play soccer?   My family would not have been able to afford to put me in soccer if I was a young kid today.”

Between the Lines: There’s disagreement about the cost of youth soccer.   Some studies indicate a child can play for $1,500 a year, but Solo said the cost at the “elite” level reaches $15,000 with all the travel requirements.  Other countries have soccer programs that receive far more financial support from their governments than America’s provides.