Good morning, all! It’s hump day!!!!!
Well not many people saw that coming, did they? Tony Clark, the executive director of the MLBPA, stepped down from that post on Tuesday. I address the issue in the commentary. Since I recorded the piece, there have been further developments. Reports are Clark left his post because of an “inappropriate relationship” with his sister-in-law, who works for the association.
The Athletic is reporting the association’s eight-player executive subcommittee asked for Clark’s resignation, after an “internal inquiry” uncovered the relationship.
Adding to the intrigue, the MLBPA executive board met late Tuesday afternoon and did not select an interim successor. It was believed deputy executive director Bruce Meyer would be a lock to land the job, even if an interim tag was attached, but the players decided not to “rush” into a decision.
Spring training is only eight days old and already the 2026 baseball season is off to an intriguing start.
Here are some other thoughts on a Wednesday in February:
What is going on here? You have got owners and executives of NBA teams saying they have no problem with their teams not putting forth their best to win games so they can get a better draft choice? Disgusting isn’t a strong enough word to describe such comments. Yet Mark Cuban, who owns a minority stake in the Dallas Mavericks, wrote in a social media post that the “NBA should embrace tanking.” Then you have the president of the Indiana Pacers basketball operations, Kevin Pritchard, boasting about a poll showing Pacers fans want their team to tank to get a better draft choice. Give me a break. I don’t care how solid the television ratings were for the NBA All-Star game (I was not among those who watched), any league that has owners and executives defending a team doing its best not to win games is twisted! Period!
Another day, another pitcher out with a UCL. Minnesota Twins all-star pitcher Pablo Lopez will miss the season because of a partially torn UCL.
R.I.P. Doug Moe. When professional basketball was played with integrity, Moe was the coach of the Denver Nuggets of the ABA and later made the transition to the NBA. His rumpled look on the sideline belied a fierce competitor. I will guarantee you he never tanked. Moe also coached the San Antonio Spurs and Philadelphia 76ers. Moe died Tuesday, following a long bout with cancer. He was 87.
The window has opened for NFL teams to tag franchise players. The window closes at 4 p.m. ET March 3. There are three tags teams can use: Non-exclusive franchise tag, exclusive franchise tag and transition tag. Look for more players to be tagged as we get closer to the deadline.
That is going to do it for today’s newsletter. Thank you for being a subscriber and have a wonderful Wednesday!
DAN
