This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2006, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The Fullerton Flyers, an independent minor league baseball team that begins play next month, recently traded for a pitcher from a team in Schaumburg, Ill., whose season already is under way.
The Flyers acquired the pitcher by sending the Schaumburg team, also known as the Flyers, 60 cases of Budweiser. That's because the pitcher is Nigel Thatch, who is 0-3 in seven starts but is also the actor who played cocky athlete Leon in Budweiser commercials.
''This trade was a bargain for us,'' Fullerton general manager Ed Hart said. ''We were prepared to throw in a Clydesdale.''
Rich Ehrenrich, owner of the Schaumburg team, told the Chicago Tribune, ''Nigel really gave us a unique presence in the sports marketplace. In the true spirit of 'Leon Time,' we'll have a cold one courtesy of Fullerton and thank Nigel for his time here."
THEY SAID IT
The NBA assessed a $10,000 fine and, retroactively, a flagrant foul against Denver Nugget forward Reggie Evans for grabbing at the crotch of center Chris Kaman during the Clippers' 100-86 victory in Game 4 on Saturday.
Wrote ''The Flip Side'' in the Baltimore Sun: ''If Evans would end up with a suspension, we could say it was the first time a player had been sidelined by a pulled groin that wasn't his own.''
Experts have compared the Houston Texans passing over Reggie Bush to draft defensive end Mario Williams to the Portland Trail Blazers passing over Michael Jordan to draft Sam Bowie in 1984.
Said NFL Network's Mike Mayock: ''I do think Reggie Bush is Michael Jordan, which would put Charley Casserly [the Texans' general manager] in the role of Stu Inman [former Trail Blazer general manager].''