|
|
| Author |
Message |
Patrick
Administrator
Joined: 16 Mar 2001
Posts: 12810
Location: Harbinger, NC, U.S.A.
|
 Posted: 4/7/2001, 9:48 am Post subject: |
 |
|
| Quote: |
NEW ORLEANS – Saints running back Ricky Williams has contacted the Texas Rangers about pursuing a return to baseball, a Rangers official told the Times-Picayune of New Orleans on Friday.
The Saints say it's news to them that Williams contacted the Rangers at the end of spring training, the Times-Picayune reported Saturday.
The Rangers confirmed a preliminary call from the former Heisman trophy winner, who has been on the team's restricted list since March 4, 1999. Williams contract with the Saints does not prohibit playing baseball. Williams has not reported to the Saints voluntary offseason conditioning program, forfeiting a $100,000 bonus. A representative of Williams made a preliminary call to Rangers general manager Doug Melvin during the last week of spring training to discuss his interest, said John Blake, the Rangers' vice president of communications.
Williams has not played baseball since spending 12 games with Batavia of the Class A New York-Penn League in 1998.
"It was a very preliminary call, and we have not heard anything else," Blake said. "That's where it stands, and until we hear otherwise we are not taking it very seriously."
Williams has told friends he is interested in playing baseball again, but the third-year pro hasn't discussed the issue with Saints officials.
"We talked with Ricky today, and he didn't mention it (baseball)," Saints general manager Randy Mueller said. "It's all news to us."
Coach Jim Haslett said earlier this week that he has heard rumors about Williams' interest in baseball but that neither Williams nor David Dunn, one of Williams' agents, has broached the subject during recent conversations. Haslett said Wednesday he has not talked with Williams in two weeks.
Williams is working out in San Diego and did not immediately return a phone call to the Times-Picayune on Friday. None of his Assante Corp. agents, Dunn, Leigh Steinberg or Jeff Moorad, returned phone calls this week.
Williams is the only player under contract who has not reported for the team's voluntary offseason conditioning program. The 15-week program began March 19. Williams has missed 12 sessions.
Williams' contract with the Saints does not prevent him from playing baseball. He already has forfeited $100,000, however, for failing to participate in 90 percent of the workout sessions this season. It is the second consecutive season he has failed to meet that contractual obligation.
If Williams does want to play, he'll have to clear several hurdles to return to the diamond at this point in the season.
First, he would need to file a formal request to the Rangers, who have had him on their restricted list since March 4, 1999, when he announced his intentions to skip spring training and concentrate on his rookie season in the NFL.
The Rangers purchased Williams' contract for $100,000 on Dec. 15, 1998, from the Montreal Expos, who selected the outfielder from Philadelphia's Scranton/Wilkes-Barre roster the previous afternoon during Major League Baseball's Rule Five draft.
Williams' contract remains the property of the Rangers, but under rules of the Rule Five draft, he must be offered back to the Phillies for $25,000. If the Phillies do not want to retain Williams' rights, he then would be placed on waivers.
In four minor-league seasons in the Phillies system, Williams hit .211 with four home runs and 40 RBI. In 12 games with Class A Batavia of the New York-Penn League, Williams hit .288, had a nine-game hitting streak and stole six bases in 53 at-bats.
|
What the heck? Oh well, I'm confused now. 
_________________
Patrick O'Keefe - SportsForums.net Administrator
Have a suggestion or a bit of feedback relating to SportsForums.net? Please contact me!
SportsForums.net Shop - User Guidelines - Link To Us
My Teams: New York Yankees (MLB) and Miami Dolphins (NFL) |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
ChristophS
Prospect
Joined: 21 Apr 2001
Posts: 12
Location: Wilmington, NC
|
| Posted: 4/22/2001, 8:59 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| He should by all means play baseball...no matter how much he earns it has to be better than what he's making with the Saints, which is pretty much pennies. I think it was really unfair of the Saints to take advantage of him like that. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Wedge231
VIP
Joined: 20 Mar 2001
Posts: 5870
Location: South Bend, IN
|
| Posted: 4/23/2001, 6:05 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I always feel athletes should stick to their sport. Don't be like Michael Jordan or Deion Sanders. Play one sport and be good at it. People like this usually don't do to well.
_________________
-Wedge231 chris@c-wod.com
http://www.c-wod.com |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Skunk
Moderator
Joined: 22 Mar 2001
Posts: 191
Location: Brantford Ontario Canada
|
| Posted: 5/3/2001, 9:10 am Post subject: |
|
|
now its Deon's turn to come back
_________________
Ruck, Maul, Scrum... and thats just getting a beer. Rugby is Life. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Patrick
Administrator
Joined: 16 Mar 2001
Posts: 12810
Location: Harbinger, NC, U.S.A.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Wedge231
VIP
Joined: 20 Mar 2001
Posts: 5870
Location: South Bend, IN
|
| Posted: 5/3/2001, 2:33 pm Post subject: |
|
|
He has been doing pretty good so far. He went 3-3 or 4-4 the other night.
_________________
-Wedge231 chris@c-wod.com
http://www.c-wod.com |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
|
Register
Profile
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Contact
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
