Cherry Is on Top of Canadian Situation
Don Cherry, former NHL coach and current commentator for Canadian television, is still angry that Montreal fans booed the American national anthem.
Even though fans cheered “The Star-Spangled Banner” at several games over the weekend, Cherry said “years of pride went down the drain” after fans booed Thursday night at the Canadiens’ game against the New York Islanders.
“I hate to see them go it alone,” Cherry said, wearing a tie resembling the U.S. flag. “We have a country that comes to our rescue, and we’re just riding their coattails.”
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Trivia time: Who is the Angels’ franchise leader in steals?
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Figure it out: Tony Kornheiser in the Washington Post, on the world figure skating championship that are being held in Washington this week:
“On behalf of the people of Washington, D.C., let me welcome the world’s best figure skaters to the world championships here in the capital of the United States of America. Is there anything I can get you? Some sequins? Some mascara? Some feathers?
“And is there anything I can get for you women skaters?
“Ah, big-time figure skating, where you never know who’s going to win -- unless you’re part of the Russian Mafia.”
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French licks: Mike Downey in the Chicago Tribune writes: “My anti-France stance prohibits me from mentioning in any future NCAA basketball coverage: (a) the Chevrolet Player of the Game; (b) Louisiana State, because of its regrettable connection to Baton Rouge; (c) the Final Four, which will be played in New Orleans, home of the Freedom Quarter; (d) CBS anchor Greg Gumbel’s alma mater, De La Salle; and (e) any championship celebration that involves a bottle of a fizzy, overpriced wine. Vive la Gatorade.”
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Camera shy: Angel reliever Ben Weber: “I thought for sure that being world champions, there would be a lot more media at spring training. But when we got here, it was the same three reporters as last year. And I thought, ‘That’s great.’ All that attention isn’t necessary.”
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Lifer: Reds’ pitcher Jose Rijo has had six operations on his arm, including one on his elbow last week, but he’s not retiring.
“Having a setback is better than anything else I could do,” he said. “Whatever else is out there for me to do, I don’t know what it is.”
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Stay aggressive: Minnesota Twin Manager Ron Gardenhire is getting tired of everyone telling him that drawing walks and having a high on-base percentage is the most important thing in baseball.
“I think when you start telling your kids, ‘Let’s be more patient at the plate,’ you’re going to screw them up. I have a hard time with that. All year long, I get numbers -- this guy is 0 for 8 against this pitcher, so I shouldn’t play him today. How do you know a guy doesn’t have seven line-drive outs?”
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Trivia answer: Gary Pettis, who stole 186 bases from 1982-87.
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And finally: Chicago’s Jalen Rose on Detroit’s Ben Wallace, who had 20 rebounds in the Pistons’ 105-82 win Sunday: “You take him away from the Pistons, and I’m pretty sure they aren’t the best team in the East. If you go by what he does for a team, then he wins the MVP hands down.”
