In Orlando, Iliana Limon Romero reports families with special-needs children have become "offended at Orlando City games by official team supporter groups using the word 'retarded' in chants and songs." Down Syndrome Association of Central Florida Exec Dir Amy Van Bergen said that families have told her the word "has been extensively used by members of the Iron Lion Firm and The Ruckus during games throughout the year." Iron Lion Firm President Rodrigo Guillen said that one of the group's "most popular chants once included the r-word, but it has since been changed to 'disregarded'" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 6/5).
MOUNTAIN MAN: In Denver, Mark Kiszla writes Rockies 3B Nolan Arenado is the "new face of the franchise," and while fans still chant SS Troy Tulowitzki's name, it increasingly is Arenado "who elicits the loudest cheers when he's introduced." The Rockies' brand is "built on starry Colorado nights, cheap homers and likable personalities who make the team lovable despite all the losing." Rockies Owner Dick Monfort "does not want to trade Tulowitzki," but the team "can, because everybody from a kid cheering Arenado in the bleachers to the owner sitting behind the dugout can look to third base for their new baseball hero" (DENVER POST, 6/5).
TWEET AT ME: In DC, Marissa Payne noted FanGraphs has identified the Cubs as the "most engaging team" in MLB in regards to corresponding to unverified Twitter accounts. The team "interacted with unverified accounts 2,789 times in May." The Yankees were at the bottom of the list, as they interacted "just three times" last month with unverified accounts. The "average number of interactions" for all teams was 659 (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 6/5).
PAYING TRIBUTE: The WNBA Fever on June 14 will honor the late Lauren Hill, who played for the Mount St. Joseph's Univ. basketball team before she died in April 10 from brain cancer. The Cure Starts Now Foundation will receive donations from the Be YOUnique Fund of the Pacers Foundation, the Fever and fans (Fever). Hill's family "will be in attendance as honorary team captains for the game and a Fever jersey for Lauren will have a spot on the bench throughout the contest" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 6/5).
