Spikes charged for leaving scene of accident
Former New England Patriots linebacker Brandon Spikes was charged Friday in connection with a hit-and-run after his car was found abandoned with front-end damage.
Massachusetts State Police issued a citation, charging Spikes with speeding, negligent driving and other motor vehicle offenses from an accident early Sunday morning. He also was cited with leaving the scene and failure to stay within marked lanes.
Spikes, 27, will appear in Wrentham District Court at an undetermined date.
Spikes’ damaged Mercedes was found abandoned on I-495 in Foxborough, Mass., on Sunday. The Patriots released him the next day.
According to authorities, Spikes was speeding and driving negligently when he crashed his 2011 Maybach sedan into the back of a sport utility vehicle on 495 northbound. The occupants of the SUV suffered minor injuries in the crash.
Responding troopers located the Maybach with significant front-end damage in the median shortly before 3:30 a.m. on Sunday.
Spikes played four seasons in New England before signing a one-year deal with the Buffalo Bills last year. The Patriots signed him to a one-year deal worth up to $2 million in May. The only guaranteed money was a $25,000 signing bonus.
MLB suspends Twins’ Hunter
Major League Baseball suspended Minnesota Twins outfielder Torii Hunter for two games and fined him an undisclosed amount for his actions during a game against the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday night in Minneapolis.
Hunter appealed the suspension, which was scheduled to begin Friday night with a game against the Texas Rangers, but it will be delayed until a review is conducted.
In the eighth inning on Wednesday night, Hunter had to be restrained after being called out on strikes by home plate umpire Mark Ripperger in the Twins’ 7-2 loss. While Hunter argued, he had to be restrained by crew chief Brian O’Nora and Twins manager Paul Molitor.
Hunter then ripped off an elbow pad and shin guard, his batting gloves and finally his jersey before exiting.
Silverdome on sale again — for $30 million
The Pontiac Silverdome, the former home of the Detroit Lions that was sold for $583,000 six years ago, is up for sale again — this time with the asking price of about $30 million.
The Detroit Free Press reported that the dilapidated stadium and its surrounding 127 acres landed on the market several weeks ago. There have been nearly two dozen inquiries and two actual offers, according to CBRE realtor Robert Mihelich.
“We’ve gotten quite a bit of interest, locally, nationally and internationally,” Mihelich told the newspaper Thursday.
Mihelich said the Silverdome likely would be razed for redevelopment.
The current owner bought the stadium in 2009 from the City of Pontiac. The owner had planned to revitalize the venue, but the Silverdome has been in advancing disrepair since its inflatable canvas roof became damaged in a 2013 winter storm.
The roof is now completely shredded and is strewn across the ground and what remains of the stadium’s 80,300 seats, according to the Free Press.
Pujols passes another legend on all-time homer list
ST. PETERSBURG, Florida — Albert Pujols moved ahead of Mickey Mantle on baseball’s career home runs list Thursday night, part of a hot streak that has seen him hit nine homers in 13 games.
“It’s a great accomplishment, and I thank the Lord for giving me the ability and the talent to be able to do that,” Pujols said of reaching career home run No. 537, putting him at No. 16 all time. “It’s been a great career so far. At the same time, I’m just glad I was able to do something to help my ballclub win.”
Pujols and center fielder Mike Trout each had a home run and two RBIs, combining for five hits to power Los Angeles to a 6-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. Even so, manager Mike Scioscia was as pleased about the supporting cast — second baseman Johnny Giavotella had three hits, raising his average to .281, and left fielder Efren Navarro also had three, hiking his average to .308.