Crystal’s Day in the Sun

I think every sports fan dreams of the day that they can don the uniform of his or her favorite team and be part of the team for a day.

That dream came true for comedian/actor Billy Crystal when he signed a one-day, minor-league deal with the Yankees. To commemorate his 60th birthday, Crystal wore the number 60 on his jersey and led off Thursday's spring training contest against the Pittsburgh Pirates. After going to a 3-1 pitch count, Crystal struck out. But as he told the New York Times, “it was a great feeling.”

While it’s amusing to watch celebrities like Crystal mingle with the big boys on the baseball field, how many of us wouldn’t mind trading places with them? Why should celebrities have all the fun?

Why not let the average sports fan spend a day with their favorite sports team, wear the team uniform, and have a swing or two in the batter’s box? Naturally, such an honor does not come for free. A generous donation to the team’s favorite charity would work quite nicely. I can’t think of a better way to spend a birthday, can you?

Sports Agent Sentenced for Smuggling

Last November, I wrote about Gustavo “Gus” Dominguez, an American sports agent who was charged with smuggling Cuban baseball players into the United States. He pleaded not guilty.

Dominguez was convicted in April and today was sentenced to five years in prison plus three years probation and a $2,100 fine, according to Reuters. The 48-year-old agent, who co-founded Total Sports International, Inc. and represented dozens of Cuban athletes, was convicted of smuggling five baseball prospects out of Cuba to the Florida Keys and then onto California, where he shopped them to potential teams. The case is believed to be the first of its kind that directly links smuggling with the business of baseball.

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