Lessons from recent days

WOERNER’S CORNER
Things I’ve Learned

I’ve once again come to the point where I’m reflecting on some of the things I have learned about current trends in the sports world in recent days.
For example, I have learned it may be time for Ken Griffey Jr. to have a little talk with Muhamad Ali about hanging on too long. Like Ali in the days when he was getting the face he bragged on so much mashed in by opponents, Griffey is starting to embarrass himself. He has now crossed the 40-year-old barrier. That seems to be the beginning of the end for most players.
Griffey has four hits in his last ten games. He has a .212 average and has yet to hit one of his famous, towering homeruns. The Mariners recognized this as they are paying him “only” $2 million this season. That is a pretty big slap in the face when he made $12 million in 2002. Griffey is far from the player who may well be in the Hall of Fame someday.
I have learned that the only thing Dale Earnhardt Jr. has in common with his father is his name. When his car had the No. 8, at least he looked a little like the No. 3 his dad ran. Now with 88 on his Chevrolet he just blends in with the pack. For the most part it has been with most of the other drivers in the field in front of him. “Little E,” as fans like to call him, was winless last year.
Fans got some hope this year with a near-miss second place at Daytona to start the season. Since then the best finish was a seventh place. There was also an eighthplace finish but he came in at No. 32 in another event and had a No. 16 finish. Daddy would not exactly be proud.
I have learned Tiger Woods must have something awful big to hide from his time off the course. He wants his wife to sign a contract saying she will not comment about their private lives in public. The two are reportedly filing for divorce in Sweden in an attempt to keep details of the split secret from the American press.
That is too bad, Elin should let the world know what she is doing to the man who humiliated her and her two beautiful children in front of the world.
I learned I need to pay more attention to baseball this season, particularly in the National League. When the Cincinnati Reds are in first place it is time to take a second look at the standings. It is even more intriguing to see the Pirates in the middle of the pack, still with hope for the fans of Pittsburgh for something interesting before the Steelers take the field.
The American League is still difficult to get into as it has been as long as I can remember because it is the same old thing. The Royals and Orioles are in last place. The Yankees and Red Sox are still fighting hard with each other and a bunch of other teams are fighting to get their name recognized.
The Rays may be the best team in the league this year so that does give American League fans something to cheer for. I will keep watching the National League pulling for the Braves and Cubs thank you very much.