Welcome to Wednesday’s Morning Mashup. For the latest news, start at our WEEI.com home page or click here for the top stories from our news wire.
WEDNESDAY’S BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS:
MLB: Red Sox at White Sox, 8:10 p.m. (NESN; WEEI-FM)
MLB: Astros at Yankees, 1:05 p.m. (MLB Network)
MLB: Twins at Rays, 7:10 p.m. (MLB Network)
MLB: Cubs at Giants, 10L15 p.m. (ESPN)
WNBA: Sparks at Fever, 7 p.m. (NBA TV)
Soccer: UEFA Champions, Manchester United at Club Brugge, 2:30 p.m. (FS1)
AROUND THE WEB:
— Curt Schilling was removed from ESPN’s coverage of the Little League World Series on Tuesday after he retweeted an inflammatory comment about Muslims, and the former Red Sox pitcher — scheduled to join the Dennis & Callahan show at 9:05 a.m. — said he understands it. [UPDATE: Schilling postponed his D&C appearance, indicating he hopes to talk later in the week.]
The tweet featured a graphic with a photo of Adolf Hitler saluting. The text read: IT’S SAID ONLY 5-10% OF MUSLIMS ARE EXTREMISTS. IN 1940, ONLY 7% OF GERMANS WERE NAZIS. HOW’D THAT GO?
Above the graphic was a line that read: The math is staggering when you get to true #’s.
ESPN yanked Schilling and released a statement that read: “Curt’s tweet was completely unacceptable and in now way represents our company’s perspective. We made that point very strongly to Curt and have removed him from his current Little League assignment pending further consideration.”
Schilling removed the graphic and followed with a tweet acknowledging a lapse in judgment, writing: I understand and accept my suspension. 100% my fault. Bad choices have bad consequences and this was a bad decision in every way on my part.
— Michael Vick has gone from one Patriots rival to another, landing with the Steelers after playing for the Jets last season.
The 35-year-old signed a one-year deal Tuesday night to back up Ben Roethlisberger — or serve as a third-stringer behind third-year pro Landry Jones.
Vick had a mostly forgettable year in New York in 2014, although he did manage to lead the lowly Jets to an upset of the Steelers on Nov. 9, throwing two touchdown passes in a 20-13 victory. He finished the season with 10 appearances and three starts, completing 64-of-121 passes for 604 yards and three TDs with two interceptions. He ran 26 times for 153 yards (5.9 yards per carry) and was sacked 19 times.
“There’s not a throw on the field he can’t make from an arm strength standpoint,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. “He’s a very experienced guy at what he does at this point in his career and the mobility is still unique even at 35.”
— USC football coach Steve Sarkisian publicly apologized for his profane speech at a team rally this past weekend, claiming that it was a combination of medication and alcohol that led to his odd behavior and promising to seek treatment.
“I was not right, and I think the moral of the story is this: When you mix meds with alcohol, sometimes you say things and/or do things that you regret, and I regret it,” Sarkisian said before Tuesday’s practice. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry for all of our fans and donors and all the people that were in attendance, but I’m going to move forward, and we’re going to be great. I can’t wait to start coaching again today.”
While saying, “I don’t know if I even need rehab,” Sarkisian said he will “have a meeting to figure that out.”
The second-year Trojans coach also said he would not drink again this season, and alcohol would be banned in the coaches’ rooms on campus and at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
Senior quarterback Cody Kessler said the team’s leadership council sentenced Sarkisian to do physical punishment drills Monday as penance, and the coach obliged. Now he’s forgiven.
“He came to us as a man, apologized, looked us in the face, told us things, and that’s hard to do,” Kessler said. “But at the end of the day, I think he earned more respect from us and the team, and I think it brought us closer together.”
ON THIS DAY TRIVIA (answer below): On Aug. 26, 1945, which Red Sox pitcher won his 20th game of the season, winning the game for himself by hitting an RBI double in the bottom of the 10th inning to beat the Philadelphia Athletics, 4-3, in Game 1 of a doubleheader sweep?
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I think with me at first, we’re going to have a better team on the field, competing every day.” — Hanley Ramirez, on his pending move from left field to first base for the Red Sox
STAT OF THE DAY: $250,000 — Amount the Clippers were fined by the NBA for violating the league’s rules in their pursuit of free agent DeAndre Jordan last month, for promoting a potential third-party endorsement opportunity
‘NET RESULTS (mobile users, check the website to see the videos): Angels center fielder Mike Trout races a long way and makes a diving catch against the Tigers.
Carlos Gomez of the Astros exchanges words with some Yankees players who don’t care for his antics.
TRIVIA ANSWER: Dave “Boo” Ferriss
SOOTHING SOUNDS: Valerie Simpson, of Ashford & Simpson, was born on this day in 1946.
