New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter answers questions at a news conference in New York, April 25, 2013.Reuters
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It has been difficult this season to watch one of the game's class acts struggle against the inevitable ravages of time.
So perhaps it will come as a bit of a relief now that 39-year-old Derek Jeter has decided it is best for all concerned that he return to the disabled list for a fourth time to deal with an ankle issue, his year now over.
There are whispers that this also represents the end of the line in what has been a magnificent career for Jeter, a possibility that his New York Yankees' teammates are finding hard to accept as Anthony McCarron writes in the New York Daily News.
Still, the Yankees and Alex Rodriguez continue their strong push to try and secure a post-season playoff berth, even without their captain on the field, orchestrating an extra-inning, come-from-behind win over the Baltimore Orioles.
As David Waldstein of the New York Times writes, it was not until about 30 minutes after the conclusion of their game that the Yankees realized the full value of the victory.
In case you had not noticed, a cherished home-run record is about to fall – in Japan.
Former major leaguer Wladimir Balentien of the Yakult Swallows belted his 55th home run of the year to tie Japanese baseball's single season record.
For his feat Balentien was presented with a bouquet of flowers after reaching home plate.
The 29-year-old Balentien has 21 regular-season games left to make the record his own.
Camping Out
National Hockey League training camps are about to get going and for at least one team it will represent an opportunity for a total make-over.
As Travis Brown writes in the Star-Telegram, when the Dallas Stars take to the ice at the Fort Worth convention centre they will be introducing fans to a new logo, jersey, coach and general manager.
It will represent the biggest re-branding overhaul since the franchise relocated from Minnesota in 1993.
For the Pittsburgh Penquins, training camp will be all about the players trying to forget the sting of last year's four-game sweep at the hands of the Boston Bruins in the Eastern Conference final, writes Dave Molinari in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Undercover opposition
At National Football League games, you just never know who you might wind up sitting beside. That has never been more true than this year.
In an attempt to weed out unruly behaviour of some fans, the Seattle Seahawks have announced plans to have undercover police officers wearing the apparel of the opposing team beginning with Sunday night's game against the San Francisco 49ers.
The NFL appears to be changing its view on racially insensitive nicknames such as the Washington Redskins.
According to a post by Mike Florio on nbcsports.com, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell acknowledged that some people may find such monikers offensive.
"If one person is offended, we have to listen," Goodell said.
In the past the league was unwilling to acknowledge that such a problem even existed.
This could be good or bad news for fans of the New York Jets.
As reported by Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com, quarterback Mark Sanchez has a labral tear in his right shoulder and is leaning toward surgery that would curtail his 2013 season.