New XFL Slogan: ‘It’s Fan-tastic and That’s All’
Skip Bayless of the Chicago Tribune, describing some strange spectators at an XFL game in Soldier Field:
“A howling Unabomber to my right, a woofing Charles Manson to my left, and me watching Sunday’s frostbitten XFL game until my toes turned Enforcers purple. . . .
“Now I know I was wrong about promoter Vince McMahon wanting to see death on the field. McMahon wanted death in the stands. . . .
“As ratings threaten to set a
record prime-time low, the XFL should forget the games and just televise the fans.”
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Trivia time: What is the largest margin of victory in the men’s NCAA Division I championship basketball game?
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Ordinary game: Jerry Greene in the Orlando Sentinel: “In Foggia, Italy, they kept playing soccer even after some fans ran onto the field to attack Foggia’s goalkeeper.
“But the game was suspended when somebody threw a homemade bomb. And we think Jimmy Buffett is a problem.”
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OK, we will: NASCAR star Dale Jarrett on perceived criticism:
“It’s more dangerous for [racing critics] to drive to work every day than it is for us to do what we want to do. Nobody makes us get in these things.
“We do it by choice, and if they don’t like what we do, they should stay the hell away.”
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Only one level: A headline in the San Diego Union-Tribune: “Ryan Leaf Cut After Up and Down Career.”
Alex Kaseberg, a San Diego resident, commented to the San Francisco Chronicle, “I must have missed something. When, exactly, was the up?”
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Sensitive: Headline in Newsday on the firing of New York Islander Coach Butch Goring: “Butch Whacked.”
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Get used to it: Former Cincinnati star Kenyon Martin has had a difficult time adjusting to losing with the New Jersey Nets, who have a 21-41 record.
“I don’t think I lost that many games in four years in college,” he said. “It’s close if I put college and high school together.”
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Civilized dining: Comedy writer Earl Hochman: “In his latest interview on TV, Mike Tyson says he thinks he has grown up. Translation: Instead of taking a bite, he may settle for a nibble on the ear of his next opponent.”
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Statistical oddity: Comedy writer Jerry Perisho: “Tuesday was Laker center Shaquille O’Neal’s 29th birthday. That makes him the only man in the NBA whose age matches his free-throw percentage.”
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Details, details: Mike Lupica of the New York Daily News, on New York Giant cornerback and former USC player Jason Sehorn’s new six-year, $36-million contract:
“Imagine how much money Sehorn could’ve made if he’d covered anybody in the Super Bowl.”
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Looking back: On this day in 1951, Ezzard Charles won a unanimous 15-round decision over Jersey Joe Walcott, retaining the heavyweight boxing championship in Detroit.
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Trivia answer: 30 points. Nevada Las Vegas defeated Duke, 103-73, in 1990.
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And finally: Glenn Dickey of the San Francisco Chronicle writes that Bill Walsh will step down as 49er general manager after the draft, with Terry Donahue replacing him.
“Terry has great skills. We’re fortunate to have him,” Walsh said. “He’s ready to do the job, and it’s probably better to get him in there sooner than later.”
