ESPN's "SNB" last night discussed who is the face of MLB, with Matt Vasgersian noting Yankees OF Aaron Judge’s jersey is the "top-selling in all of baseball." The net's Alex Rodriguez called Judge a "likeable young man." Rodriguez: "He is made like out of a Disney movie and he’s an easy guy to cheer for" (“Red Sox-Yankees,” ESPN, 8/4). FS1’s Nick Swisher said Judge "could be the face of the game." Swisher: "He has the personality, he’s bigger than life, he’s got that huge smile" (“MLB on FS1 Postgame,” 8/3). FS1’s Jon Morosi said Angels CF Mike Trout's personality is "more engaging than people realized," but since he plays on the west coast, it is "not quite communicated outwardly" (“MLB on FS1 Postgame,” 8/3).
MOVING ON: SPORTING NEWS' Jordan Heck noted Patriots coach Bill Belichick's face "doesn't appear in EA Sports' popular Madden video game franchise," and the developer is not "allowed to use his name, or his likeness in the virtual world." This is because while EA Sports has an agreement with the NFL Coaches Association to "use the name and likeness of the league's coaches," Belichick "is not a part of the NFLCA, and hasn't been for most of his career" (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 8/2).
A CARDINAL INVASION: The AP noted an Illinois license plate featuring the MLB Cardinals "will be sold in support of public schools." The plates featuring the Cardinals' logo "will be available for purchase after Labor Day." Fans will be "able to order random number, personalized or vanity plates." The "cost of a random number Cardinals plate" will be $69, and pricing "varies for vanity and personalized license plates" (AP, 8/2).
