Don’t be surprised if the CFL’s top scorer is kicking around the NFL next season.
Sandro DeAngelis, who connected on five of five field-goal attempts to lead the Calgary Stampeders to the Grey Cup last Sunday, has attracted the interest of dozens of NFL scouts, many of whom attended the CFL’s championship game in Montreal.
DeAngelis, a 27-year-old native of Niagara Falls, Ont., scored 217 points to finish atop the CFL in the past season.
• The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim – yes, that’s still their official name – couldn’t win a championship last season but they have won a weird lawsuit.
A California court has ruled the Angels did not discriminate against men by giving free tote bags to women who attended their game last Mother’s Day. A three-judge panel ruled unanimously that the claim, made by a group of men, threatened to undermine the legitimacy of civil rights law.
• The Los Angeles Dodgers, meanwhile, charged fans $500 U.S. each the other day to take batting practice alongside two of their players.
The club collected $125,000 U.S. – for themselves, not as a fundraiser -- from 250 fans who paid the $500 fee in these difficult economic times to swing at a handful of lobs in the Dodgers’ batting cage and pose for pictures with their catcher, Ontarian Russell Martin, and outfielder Andre Ethier.
• The Dodgers, incidentally, are trying to re-sign free agent Rafael Furcal, whom the Blue Jays dearly covet for two roles – leadoff hitter and shortstop. The Jays likely won’t outbid the Dodgers, San Francisco Giants or Oakland A’s. . .If the A’s successfully lure Furcal, they’ll trade shortstop Bobby Crosby - and the Jays already have let Oakland know they’re interested. The A’s might be willing to pick up part of Crosby’s $5.25-million salary. . .The Angels won’t be re-signing Mark Texeira because the all-star first baseman is seeking a 10-year, megazillion-dollar contract. . .I reported here yesterday that C.C. Sabathia would sign a $140-million deal with the Yankees before tomorrow, but the Angels have come in with a late attempt to match the New York offer for the pitching star. . .The Jays, meanwhile, continue to pursue slugger Milton Bradley but sources whisper their Plan B for power could be Ken Griffey Jr. . .After recently trading Coco Crisp, the Boston Red Sox have opened negotiations with outfielder Rocco Baldelli, formerly of the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays likely won’t try to retain Baldelli because of his mitochondrial disorder, which often exhausts him during games.
Marty York is Metro's national sports columnist as well as an instructor at the College of Sports Media in Toronto. He can be heard regularly on Vancouver radio station CKNW with Sportstalk host Dan Russell. Contact Marty at marty.york@metronews.ca
