Whitecaps co-Owners Jeff Mallett and Greg Kerfoot are "apologizing for how the club handled decade-old allegations of abuse and harassment by a former coach" of its USL-W team. Mallett and Kerfoot issued a letter yesterday saying they “express sincere regret and empathy for the harm that has clearly come to many women who participated in our program” around '08. More than a dozen women who played for the Whitecaps "have come forward to allege" former coach Bob Birarda "acted inappropriately with members of the team" (CP, 5/1).
PROPER SEND-OFF: In California, Jim Alexander writes under the header, "Do Angels Realize What They’re Losing In Tim Mead?" Mead, the Angels' longtime VP/Communications who is becoming Baseball HOF President, will "now be the curator of baseball’s soul." Alexander: "Wouldn’t it be a good idea, before he leaves for Cooperstown, if the Angels recognized Mead’s loyalty and distinguished service by making him the 17th entity in the franchise’s own Hall of Fame?" (Riverside PRESS ENTERPRISE, 5/2).
MARKING THEIR TERRITORY: In New Orleans, Greg LaRose notes an effort to "add 'Who Dat Nation' signage along Interstate 10 at Louisiana’s borders with Texas and Mississippi was approved" yesterday in the state Senate. The proposal "would also place a similar tribute at the I-10 exit for the Superdome." The Who Dat Nation markers will "not supplant existing messages at the state: 'Keep Louisiana Beautiful' and 'Bienvenue en Louisiane'" (NOLA.com, 5/2).
