Talking Points: High school sports season starts today

1.

The 2013-14 high school sports season officially begins today.

Games won’t happen for a few more weeks. But the sounds of coaches’ whistles and cleats digging into turf will fill the air around Clark County high schools today.

It’s the first day of high school football practice.

Last year saw temperatures in the mid 90s. Wednesday won’t quite as hot, but still toasty with predicted high of 90 as players focus on preparing for the season’s first games Sept. 6.

We say that first football Friday can’t get here soon enough.

2.

Boston pitcher Ryan Dempster was suspended for five games and fined by Major League Baseball on Tuesday for intentionally hitting New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez with a pitch last weekend.

While A-Rod haters might have a new favorite pitcher, a suspension pretty much had to happen.

N.Y. manager Joe Girardi said it would be “open season” on A-Rod if Dempster wasn’t suspended.

“That baseball is a weapon. It’s not a tennis ball. Or it’s not an Incrediball that’s soft. It’s a weapon, and it can do a lot of damage to someone’s life,” Girardi said.

3.

That must have been awkward.

Offensive lineman John Moffitt was a Cleveland Brown for just a few minutes Tuesday after being traded from Seattle.

The Browns voided the trade due to health concerns.

Moffitt excitedly spoke to reporters about a new start in Cleveland on Tuesday and even took the practice field in uniform with his helmet before he was escorted off by Browns coach Rob Chudzinski.

Later, the 6-foot-4, 319-pound Moffitt was traded to Denver, which sent defensive tackle Sealver Siliga to Seattle.