If It Isn’t Fair, Then It Must Be Fowl
A favorite thing for columnists to do around the Thanksgiving holiday is name a “turkey of the year.”
Patrick Reusse of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune nominated soccer star Rivaldo. Here’s why:
“The Brazilian set an example for other soccer fakers to follow throughout last summer’s World Cup. A ball was fired after the whistle and struck Rivaldo in the leg. He grabbed his head and went down as though he had been shot in the face by a bazooka. He was cited by FIFA for what was termed ‘disgraceful overreaction.’
“And here’s the good part: Rivaldo did this against Turkey.”
Trivia time: Who is the all-time leading scorer in women’s college basketball?
Just a humble guy: Kobe Bryant, in SLAM magazine, says this about public perception that he is arrogant:
“I work really, really hard at what I do. I don’t think people know that. They don’t know I’m putting in eight hours of work a day.... You know, I’m not a cocky person. I believe in what I’m capable of doing, but I’m not cocky.”
Long way from Texas: “The Junction Boys,” an original movie that will be shown on ESPN Dec. 14, will portray the story of 35 young men who survived Bear Bryant’s harrowing 1954 Texas A&M; football training camp in desolate, drought-ridden Junction, Texas.
But the ESPN-produced movie was not shot in Texas. Because of budgetary concerns, it was shot in Australia with Australian actors used for some of the roles.
Said Tom Berenger, who stars as Bryant: “The three boys that are the principals did an excellent job and you will think they’re Texans, not Aussies.”
Texas thinking: Blackie Sherrod of the Dallas Morning News recalls this philosophy of former Texas A&M; basketball coach Shelby Metcalf: “I like married players on my squad. They’re used to taking orders.”
No math major: Sherrod offers this from former Saint running back George Rogers: “I want to rush for 2,000 yards or 1,500, whichever comes first.”
Necessities of life: And then there’s this philosophy from former Minnesota Viking coach Bud Grant: “A successful coach needs a patient wife, a loyal dog and a great quarterback -- but not necessarily in that order.”
The eyes have it: “Elton John is scheduled to have laser surgery on his eyes in February and is uncertain what to do with his 4,000 pairs of glasses,” says comedian Jerry Perisho. “He’ll either donate them to a museum or offer them to the Major League Baseball Umpires Assn.”
Sweet scientist: Ukrainian heavyweight Wladimir Klitschko, who fights Jameel McCline in Las Vegas on Saturday, has a doctorate in sports science and philosophy from the University of Kiev.
Trivia answer: Patricia Hoskins scored 3,122 points and averaged 28.4 a game during her four seasons at Mississippi Valley State (1985-89). She averaged 33.6 points as a senior, the all-time high for a season.
And finally: The Clippers have long been the butt of Jay Leno jokes. Now it’s the Lakers.
“The Lakers did some charity work -- gave away two more games,” Leno said recently.
