On Long Island, Steven Marcus noted the second annual Pride Night at Citi Field on Saturday "turned out to be everything" MLB VP & Special Assistant to the Commissioner Billy Bean could have "imagined." Bean viewed the event as a "template for the future." Bean: "The real message, as simple as can be if you love the Mets or you love baseball, you're welcome to come through those turnstiles and the Mets are embracing everybody." Marcus noted a portion of the ticket sales will go to "anti-bullying programs in schools" around the N.Y. area (NEWSDAY, 6/18).
BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD? CBSSPORTS.com's John Breech noted when the Rams originally announced their uniform changes for the upcoming season, the new look was "unveiled in a series of illustrations." It was not until last week that fans "got to see what the uniforms would look like on an actual player," and things "didn't go well when the team unveiled the new look." The Rams shared LB Connor Barwin "modeling the uniform in a Facebook post," and the "negative reaction was almost immediate" (CBSSPORTS.com, 6/18).
DESERVED BETTER: In Atlanta, Jeff Schultz noted the Falcons recently "made the unusual decision to concurrently celebrate the careers" of former NFLers Michael Vick and Roddy White. But the decision "served as a major disservice" to White. Schultz: "He deserved that stage alone." The Falcons "should have taken that otherwise meaningless gathering last week and used it to state right then that White will be inducted into the team's 'Ring of Honor.'" Sharing the stage with Vick meant White was "reduced to a relative afterthought" (AJC.com, 6/16).
