This Governor Does More Than Run for Office

Most people go to the Big Island of Hawaii to relax on the beach. Gov. Gary Johnson of New Mexico has other, much more strenuous plans, such as:

Swimming 2.4 miles, cycling 112 and finishing with a 26.2-mile run. All in one day!

The 44-year-old Republican is among the nearly 1,500 competitors entered in the Ironman Triathlon on Oct. 18.

“Athletically, it may be about the most significant sporting event any governor has done while in office,” an Ironman spokesman said.

Hmm, have to think about that.

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Trivia time: Who holds the NFL record for being sacked in a season?

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Anything else? Cleveland Indian pitcher Orel Hershiser, commenting on a recent poor pitching performance to Bill Livingston of the Cleveland Plain Dealer:

“There are days when you feel like a non-athlete out there. My mind didn’t feel together with my body. My body didn’t respond to my mind. It was a bad eye-hand coordination day. I was a victim of being human.”

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Drowning franchises: Larry Weisman in USA Today, on the winless New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons and Chicago Bears:

“With less than a month of the NFL season gone, these three might as well audition for roles in ‘Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.’ As giant slugs.”

Easy for you to say: Bill Frieder, who resigned under pressure as Arizona State’s basketball coach, was never known for his patience.

While sitting on an airplane grounded because of mechanical problems, an exasperated Frieder stood up and shouted, “Get this thing in the air! We’ll take our chances.”

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Lazy ambitions: A lot of people dream about being Michael Jordan. So what does Jordan dream about?

“My ultimate dream is to get a pot belly,” Jordan told TV interviewer Keenen Ivory Wayans. “I just want to sit around and relax and not focus on what I have to do the next day.”

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Puzzled: Dallas Cowboy guard Nate Newton, whose team has one offensive touchdown in its last eight quarters: “I don’t know what the deal is with our offense. I just hope the coaches figure it out so they can tell us.”

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Ole! From The Good Doctor in Inside Sports:

Question: Is it true that Mike Tyson is leaving boxing to become a bullfighter?

Answer: Yes, because bullfighters often are awarded both ears and the tail of their opponents.

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Looking back: On this day in 1969, the Rams defeated Baltimore, 27-20, in a season-opening game, starting an 11-game winning streak.

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Trivia answer: Randall Cunningham of the Philadelphia Eagles, who was sacked 72 times in 1986.

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And finally: Marshall track Coach Jeff Small, on the athletic ability of talented wide receiver Randy Moss:

“Randy could be a world-class sprinter. He’s by far the best runner I’ve ever seen. That includes Michael Johnson and Carl Lewis. He could compete in the Olympics.”