Excuse us, San Francisco, the puke on your faux Brian Wilson beard is showing.
It’s a nauseating thought for orange and black loyalists, that onetime fan-favorite Wilson will soon be seen suiting up for the Giants’ biggest rivals (and division-winning) Los Angeles Dodgers.
The man whose emotional embrace with Buster Posey on a balmy night in Texas in 2010 was synonymous with the franchise’s first World Series triumph of the San Francisco era, will soon be playing for the team he once tortured.
It’s not like Wilson’s southern defect and the ensuing vitriol is the result of an already jaded relationship with the city (see: Pierzynski, A.J.), but because he was so revered around these parts for both his antics on the field and off of it. From his win-the-Internet-worthy interviews to his now-famous beard, Wilson quickly endeared himself to a city that relishes the odd.
So when his pen hit paper officially with the Dodgers last week, the type of disappointment was akin to a jilted lover seeing his/her ex out to dinner with their worst enemy.
In Wilson’s defense, he has “said” the right things upon joining the proverbial enemy.
“Thank you to the fans in San Francisco. It was an honor to pitch in front of you for all those years….” Wilson tweeted when the news broke. “When Even though I’ll be wearing a different color your impact in my life will never be forgotten.”
He also wasn’t offered a contract by the Giants, according to the San Jose Mercury News’ Alex Pavlovic.
“I don’t worry about rivalry, bro,” he was quoted as saying when approached by TMZ. “I just play baseball. If there’s 30 teams out there and 29 don’t want me, what am I going to do, say I’m not going to play baseball? No.”
Wilson hasn’t pitched since April 2012, before having to undergo elbow reconstructive surgery (AKA, “Tommy John surgery”).
The Dodgers’ only remaining series in San Francisco will be a three-game set from Sept. 24-26...
Injuries pile up for defending NFC champions
Expectations are rightfully sky high for a San Francisco 49ers team that was a mere yards away from a Super Bowl victory last season.
With new additions and an entire year of phenom Colin Kaepernick under center, fans of the red and gold can only expect a better season than last, if that’s possible.
But with that, the 49ers have been the hard-luck franchise on the injury front, with the latest victim being defensive back Chris Culliver. Culliver, expected to be the 49ers’ third cornerback this season, tore his ACL in practice and will miss the season entirely.
The 24-year-old apparently got tangled with Marcus Cooper during a drill, which led to the devastating injury.
Former Cal and Oakland Raiders standout Nnamdi Asomugha will be expected to fill the void in Culliver’s absence.
Football! I mean…soccer!
On Wednesday night, Italian champions Juventus took on English Premier League stalwart Everton as part of the Guinness Champions Cup preseason tournament.
The game more than lived up to the hype for the 22,000+ in attendance, which ended with Everton defeating Juventus in penalty kicks after the game ended 1-1 in regulation (there was no extra time).
Highlights included American Tim Howard played the part of hero for the Toffees to chants of “USA! USA!” and a fan known as “Jungle Bird” rushed the field and took a spot kick during the penalty round.
For more, some bloke covered the match for local outfit, Bleacher Report.
Some bloke: @seanswaby
