porn<\/a> XXX.<\/p>\nSmith (16) is greeted by teammates after scoring a run during the sixth inning<\/p>\n
against the New York Mets at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-USA<\/p>\n
TODAY Sports Imagine being a professional baseball player who grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, synonymous with the thunderous hooves and celebratory mint juleps of the Kentucky Derby. Baseball fans might expect Will Smith, the Los Angeles Dodgers\u2019 catcher, to be a regular at the Derby. Now imagine that, for some reason, you ditch the Derby festivities every year. That\u2019s the curious case of Smith. The MLB catcher recently appeared on the popular baseball podcast, \u201cFlippin\u2019 Bats with Ben Verlander.\u201d The conversation took an interesting turn when the topic shifted to the upcoming Kentucky Derby. As a Louisville native, one might expect Smith to be a huge fan of the race. However, his response surprised many \u2013 he revealed he actually skipped the Derby almost every year! This unexpected answer sparks curiosity. What could be the reason behind a Kentucky boy ditching the Derby? Let\u2019s delve into the intriguing story behind the baseball star and his annual Derby exodus. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad Verlander directly inquires, \u201cWe\u2019re about a week away from the Kentucky Derby. You grew up in Louisville. Was that a big thing for you and your family, or no?\u201d Smith\u2019s answer throws a surprising curveball: \u201cFor the city, it was, yeah, I didn\u2019t go to too many Derbys growing up.\u201d Intrigued by this unexpected response, Verlander presses on for more details. Smith then reveals a surprising truth: \u201cI played college at Louisville, so the track was, you know, basically two blocks away from our stadium; we\u2019d always leave town for that.\u201d This statement sheds new light on the situation. Apparently, Derby weekend wasn\u2019t a cherished tradition for the Smith family; it was an excuse for a getaway. This revelation might leave some fans scratching their heads. The Kentucky Derby is a cultural touchstone in the state, a day steeped in tradition and extravagant celebrations. After all, the mint juleps, the fancy hats, the adrenaline, the whole atmosphere\u2014it\u2019s a quintessential part of Kentucky culture. So why the annual escape for Will Smith? Perhaps the logistical hurdles come into play. The influx of tourists during Derby weekend can be overwhelming, making navigating the city and securing accommodations a challenge. Maybe for the Smiths, the desire for a peaceful escape outweighed the allure of the festivities. But perhaps there\u2019s more to the story. Were there other factors at play besides logistics? Another possibility is that the Derby\u2019s exorbitant costs put a damper on the Smiths\u2019 enthusiasm. Kentucky tickets can fetch a hefty price tag, especially for prime locations. Add to that the cost of Derby-appropriate attire, lavish meals, and transportation\u2014and the price tag for a Derby experience can quickly become astronomical. This might explain why Will wouldn\u2019t attend the Derby as a youngster. Perhaps for him, these costs simply weren\u2019t feasible, making Derby Day a spectator sport from afar. But was there a sense of disconnect beyond affordability? There\u2019s also the possibility that the over-the-top pageantry of the Derby just wasn\u2019t Smith\u2019s cup of tea. The elaborate hats, the adrenaline-pumping races\u2014the entire Derby spectacle might not have resonated with his personal preferences. Maybe he craved a more low-key way to celebrate the first Saturday in May. One thing\u2019s for sure: Smith\u2019s annual Derby Day exodus piques our curiosity. This unconventional tradition raises a question\u2014did his experiences playing college ball right next to Churchill Downs influence his Derby Day habits? Let\u2019s delve into his college baseball experience and see if it sheds any light on his unique Derby tradition. Shifting gears, the conversation dives into Will Smith\u2019s college baseball days at the University of Louisville. Interestingly, their stadium was practically right next door to Churchill Downs, the legendary home of the Derby. Even with such close proximity, Derby Day always meant packing their bags and heading out of town. One can only speculate on the specific reasons\u2014maybe the exorbitant ticket prices, the overwhelming crowds, or simply a desire for a quieter celebration. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad Verlander\u2019s curiosity takes another turn, and the conversation steers towards another pivotal moment in Smith\u2019s career: the MLB draft. Here, the catcher gets to recount his draft day experience, a momentous occasion for any aspiring baseball player: \u201cWe had a few guys go on the first day; my college teammates, um, basically the whole team was at our clubhouse.\u201d Will Smith was drafted in the first round of the 2016 draft by the Dodgers. He made his debut in 2019. He had back-to-back 20+ home run seasons in 2021 and 2022. He made his first All-Star team in 2023. The Dodgers’ homegrown star isn’t going anywhere. pic.twitter.com\/2lGvMg8QGU \u2014 Noah Camras (@noahcamras) March 27, 2024 Expand Tweet ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad Surrounded by teammates, families, and a palpable sense of anticipation, Smith describes the electrifying atmosphere. As his fellow Louisville Cardinals, Cory Ray and Zack Burdi, got picked early, the tension mounted. Finally, Smith\u2019s moment arrived\u2014drafted by the Dodgers in the first round, pick 32; a dream come true. The interview concludes with Smith reminiscing about the camaraderie and joy of draft day, a stark contrast to his annual Derby Day departures. This begs the question: why skip the Derby if you\u2019re from the heart of Kentucky Derby country? While the exact reasons behind Will Smith\u2019s Derby dodge remain unclear, the conversation offers a glimpse into the life of a baseball star who prioritizes different traditions. EssentiallySports\u00a0is a\u00a0digital-first sports media house\u00a0that surfaces the best stories on America’s favorite sports celebrities with a fan’s perspective to\u00a030+ M average monthly readers. 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More Sports ES Fancast Apr 25, 2024 | 1:00 PM EDT via Imago Apr 19, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith [\u2026]<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[69],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8604","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bez-rubriki"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/naseemalbahar.com\/ar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8604","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/naseemalbahar.com\/ar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/naseemalbahar.com\/ar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naseemalbahar.com\/ar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naseemalbahar.com\/ar\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8604"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/naseemalbahar.com\/ar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8604\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8605,"href":"https:\/\/naseemalbahar.com\/ar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8604\/revisions\/8605"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/naseemalbahar.com\/ar\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8604"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naseemalbahar.com\/ar\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8604"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naseemalbahar.com\/ar\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8604"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}