The Palm Beach Post REAL NEWS STARTS HERE Tuesday, February 11, 2020 C3

LOCAL NOTES NCAA, allies spend Garden of Life to nearly $1M lobbying sponsor By Ben Nuckols show. In the last six months of The Associated Press 2019, the Big 12 paid Hulshof $90,000 — some of it specifi- marathon WASHINGTON — As cally to address Walker’s bill. Congress considers whether The NCAA and the two to allow college athletes to conferences alone spent Special to The Post receive endorsement money, $990,000 on lobbying last the NCAA and its allies spent year. Garden of Life is the new title nearly $1 million last year The NCAA’s ability to sponsor of The Palm Beaches lobbying lawmakers to shape spend big on lobbying is a Marathon with this year’s race any reforms to the organiza- symptom of the larger prob- in downtown West Palm Beach tion’s liking. lem, according to advocates set for Sunday, Dec. 13. The NCAA last fall said for player compensation: a The Palm Beach Gardens- it would allow athletes to college sports system that based natural supplements “benefit from the use of generates $14 billion a year company signed a three-year their name, image and like- from athletes who are com- agreement to sponsor the mar- ness” and is crafting rules pensated only in scholarships athon. Meanwhile, Garden of to put in place for its 1,100 and other education-specific Life’s SunRun 5K, traditionally member schools in coming aid. held in April at PGA National months. But the organiza- “The NCAA is a well-heeled Resort & Spa, will be part of the tion has turned to Congress organization and college Garden of Life Palm Beaches to step in as more and more In this April 4 file photo, NCAA President Mark Emmert answers athletes, not by accident, Marathon weekend, running states follow the lead of questions at a news conference at the Final Four college basketball don’t have the kind of orga- from Dec. 11-13. California, where a law set tournament in Minneapolis. [MATT YORK/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS] nizational power or influence The race weekend will to take effect in 2023 clears that the NCAA does,” Sen. include the 5K and 10K runs the way for athletes to earn Chris Murphy, a Connecticut on the morning of Dec. 12 and endorsement money. from their name, image and 2014. And it got some help Democrat who supports then the featured Marathon, Organizations represent- likeness, told The Associated from two of the Power Five giving players more earn- Half Marathon and Marathon ing athletes have no paid Press “there’s no question” conferences. ing power, told the AP. “You Relay on Dec. 13 at 6 a.m. lobbyists, leading to concern the NCAA’s lobbying has The Atlantic Coast have to be more assiduous in A Health and Fitness Expo among some reform advo- been effective. Conference hired lobbyists soliciting the opinion of ath- will coincide with packet cates that the deep-pocketed “The NCAA is already at a last year for the first time, letes than you do the NCAA.” pickup on Dec. 11-12 at a loca- NCAA is shaping the debate. position of power,” Walker giving at least $210,000 The NCAA and its allies tion to be determined. The The NCAA’s pressure cam- said. “Otherwise you would to the law firm DLA Piper have a big reason to increase Expo will feature the latest in paign comes as the Senate have seen progress. ... There’s and another lobbyist, Tom their spending: If Congress health and fitness products and prepares for a committee been little to nothing done Korologos, to influence does nothing, athlete-friendly services, running apparel, and hearing Tuesday on player in this arena, and had the Congress on “legislative and laws like the one in California upcoming race information. compensation. student-athlete had proper regulatory proposals affect- will take effect around the “We are excited to add “The NCAA is going to representation on the federal ing intercollegiate athletes,” country. Huma said 28 states Garden of Life as the title fight for the status quo,” level, we’d be much further disclosure forms show. are considering action to grant sponsor of The Palm Beaches said Ramogi Huma, execu- down this path than we are.” The Big 12 Conference has additional rights to college Marathon,” said Ken Kennerly, tive director of the National The NCAA spent $690,000 worked with lobbyist Kenny players. who also is the Executive College Players Association. last year on in-house and Hulshof, a former Republican Tom McMillen, presi- Director of The Honda Classic. Rep. Mark Walker, a North outside lobbyists, according congressman from Missouri, dent and CEO of the LEAD1 “We are looking forward to Carolina Republican who to disclosure forms reviewed for several years, but it paid Association, a trade group for continuing to grow the race not introduced a bill last spring by the AP. That’s the most him less than $5,000 per Division I athletic directors, only in our community, but also that would guarantee play- the organization has spent quarter before ramping up its shrugged off the influence of on an international level.” ers the right to earn money on lobbying in any year since spending last year, records lobbying. Garden of Life President Brian Ray said, “This is an opportunity to help grow this great local event and make a larger impact for our charity camp like outfielder Matt But improvement and the up-and-comers who are partner, Special Olympics, MARLINS Kemp and utility man Sean chance to increase the win projected to turn the corner. which is so important to us.” Rodriguez. column by digits Progress isn’t a goal any- Early registration is open at From Page C1 The influx of new faces was the Marlins’ plan from more. It needs to become $95 for the Marathon and $75 adds to the team’s young the start of the offseason. apparent. for the Half Marathon. The core that has been built over They’re heading into Year “If we don’t make sig- early registration fee for the lengths the franchise is the past two years, a group 3 of their rebuild that began nificant improvements this Sun Run 5K is $35 and the 10K going to as they try to turn centered around third base- shortly after the Bruce year,” Marlins manager Don is $45. the corner on what has been man/right fielder Brian Sherman and Derek Jeter Mattingly said, “we’re going For information on The a rebuild for the last two Anderson, Sandy ownership group took over to be disappointed.” Garden of Life Palm Beaches seasons. Alcantara and Caleb Smith, the franchise. Kintzler, a 10-year MLB Marathon, visit gardenofli- “When they started arriv- shortstop and “All these pieces that veteran and 2017 All-Star, femarathon.com. ing into South Florida, I got Jorge Alfaro. There we’re getting,” Rojas said, went through a similar junc- a little higher off the ground are prospects knocking on “it’s showing that we’re ture that the Marlins are Trio tied for lead each time one of them the door to make their MLB through the worst.” currently in when he was a at PGA Stroke Play walked through the door,” debut, as well. Miami went a combined member of the Minnesota Marlins president of base- Put it all together, and 120-203 over the first two Twins. Minnesota had an Alex Beach of Rye, N.Y., ball operations Michael Hill there is bound to be a good seasons, a short-term sac- MLB-worst 59-103 record Omar Uresti of Austin, Tex., said. “It’s why we put in all share of competition in rifice at the MLB level as the during his first season and Jason Caron of Oyster the hard work, all the tough spring training, which Marlins restocked a barren with the club in 2016. They Bay, N.Y. are tied for the decisions that we made.” begins Wednesday when farm system and focused on went 85-77 a year later and lead at 4-under 140 entering The Marlins added 15 new pitchers and report organization depth at the reached the playoffs as a wild today’s final round of the PGA players to their 40-man to the Roger Dean Chevrolet expense of the few big-name card team. Stroke Play Championship roster over the past three Stadium complex in Jupiter. players they had to offer. “You saw a lot of talent, at PGA Golf Club in Port St. months. Nine, including The first full-squad practice Now, the Marlins say, but it was very raw,” Lucie. Dickerson, Villar, Aguilar, is Feb. 17. there are no more excuses. Kintzler said. “Experience They are among nine players catcher Is this a playoff team? The They have a consensus is the best thing for these within two shots of the lead. and Kintzler, came in off- odds are against it. Most top-10 farm system. They young guys. Hopefully, they Beach shot a 3-under 69 season acquisitions. projections have the Marlins have players with a consid- get the learning curve out of Monday on the Ryder Course That doesn’t include the winning between 62 and 70 erable amount of big-league the way and can start win- that included four birdies in non-roster invites to spring games. experience. They have ning games.” his last six holes. But he was lamenting the shots that got away. “It was one of those days where I could be 9-under to possess exciting poten- instead of 4-under,” said METS tial this season. For it to Beach, a PGA Teaching reach the ceiling, though, Professional at Westchester From Page C1 two relievers need to bounce (N.Y.) Country Club who won back — Edwin Diaz and last year’s PGA Professional Jeurys Familia. Championship. 2. Will he remain healthy When evaluating New Uresti, the first-round throughout the spring? York’s bullpen, a few “ifs” leader, overcame a double He’ll have to answer those. arise. There are always ques- bogey on his second hole (“a No. 2 is the first step to a tions, especially before any mud ball that went straight 2020 in which he redeems games have been played. left”) by playing his last 16 himself. But even at this point, some holes in 4-under for a 71. 3. The Jake Marisnick addi- points seem certain. Uresti is a PGA Life Member tion: This offseason was Here’s one: If Diaz and who has played in more than something else for the Mets. Familia can’t improve upon 370 PGA Tour events. Because of that, the Jake The Mets’ new manager , center, poses with Mets disappointing 2019 cam- Caron birdied three of his Marisnick acquisition feels executive vice president & general manager Brodie Van Wagenen, paigns, the Mets’ bullpen first six holes and held on for like ages ago. left, and Mets owner Jeff Wilpon after his introduction at a news might not be much better. a 2-under 70 to move into a The Mets, who moved conference last month. [BEBETO MATTHEWS/ASSOCIATED PRESS] In December, the Mets share of the lead. Caron played on from , added . A on the PGA Tour for two sought outfield depth. couple weeks before, they years and, along with Beach, They feel they achieved it in you’ve heard from Marcus Let’s see how his spring re-signed Brad Brach. They qualified for last year’s PGA Marisnick, though his name Stroman over the past four training begins. have six starting pitchers for Championship. isn’t splashy. months. 5. Did the defense improve? five spots, and the odd man Zac Oakley of Palm City and Lagares had -0.7 WAR He’s tweeted about how If the Mets want to contend, out could join the bullpen. Jeff Sorenson of Blaine, Minn., (wins above replacement) he’s ready for the 2020 their defense must improve All signs point to the unit are tied for fourth, a shot back last season, per season. Of course, most from 2019, when they were being a strength in 2020. at 141. Oakley had a 70 on the Reference, while Marisnick players say it. next to last in defensive runs But Diaz and Familia must Ryder Course, Sorenson a 71. had 1.2. Defensively, he’s Stroman’s situation might saved, per Fangraphs. be much better. On Monday, an upgrade as he had more be different, though. He’ll be This offseason, the Mets both were positive about the defensive runs saved (5 to a free agent after this season sought to improve in the season ahead. -2) than Lagares last season, and, after last year’s trade, field. Have they? There’s no “I think we have a great according to Fangraphs. it took him some time to get way to know until they hit bullpen,” Diaz said through Thank you for The Mets hope Marisnick his footing. But over his last the diamond. team interpreter Alan Suriel. supporting real isn’t a dud on the bench as four starts, he compiled a “I think, at the end of the Lagares was — for the most 1.88 ERA. Comeback relievers day, it’s going to come down local journalism. part — last season. Perhaps he can take it to key to success to health. If we’re healthy, 4. ready for another level. He’s an ace- we’re going to be one of the 2020: If you’re on Twitter, type at his best. The Mets’ bullpen seems best bullpens in the league.”