What if she’s in the washroom?
Marriage proposals popping up on the scoreboard at sporting events used to be trendy, and usually resulted in a happy resolution.
At least no one ever seemed to get turned down on the spot. Still, there is this question pondered by romantics worldwide: How do you take it to the next level of advanced marriage proposals?
Apparently, one Southern California Romeo, known as J.P., appears to have found the solution. He plans to propose marriage in a 30-second commercial airing during the Super Bowl, at the cost of $2.5 million, according to the New York Daily News.
Fundraising was not making much of a dent in the price tag, so J.P. reached out to the professionals -- public relations operatives and advertising gurus.
In any event, that might well be the second big question asked Feb. 4. The other being: Does almost every Super Bowl have to be a lousy game?
*
Trivia time
Who was the last quarterback drafted in the first round by the Raiders?
*
Daily dose of David
Just when does this Beckham thing get truly ridiculous? Oh, never mind, we’re already there.
One small computer screen appeared on a laptop to show that a soccer ball was up for sale on a popular internet site (“Beckham, the One and Only”), with an opening bid suggested at $100,000. Additional scrolling got to the bottom of it, revealing that someone was trying to gauge the interest of selling a United Kingdom company, Beckham Ltd.
Then there was this enticement: “In light of recent events -- I do not have to describe the opportunity that the name of this company can present.” Operators still waiting. No bids as of Sunday afternoon. Shocking.
*
Bed, bath and be stupid
British soccer player Glen Johnson, a defender for Portsmouth, had little defense when he was charged with trying to steal a toilet seat and bath taps. Apparently, he had some assistance from Millwall forward Ben May.
Just a modern-day Laurel and Hardy, these two. Hmmm, what would be the chances of someone, oh, spotting two athletes in a soccer-crazed country?
“We all recognized Johnson,” one worker told news agencies. “No one could quite believe a bloke like him, with all that money, would be moronic enough to nick a toilet seat.” Speaking of the money, Johnson is reportedly paid nearly $60,000.
A week.
*
Weighty matters
A boxer often doesn’t step into the ring and find himself the little guy when he hits the 268-pound mark on the scale and stands 6 feet 6.
That might have been the first hint that Jameel McCline was going to be in for a long night Saturday against 332-pound Nikolai Valuev. Their World Boxing Assn. heavyweight title fight in Basel, Switzerland, ended early when McCline dislocated his left knee cap.
All this only adds to the growing legend of the 7-3 Russian. One favorite quote about him came from promoter Don King last year at the U.S. Open tennis tournament.
“He’s a Jolly Red Giant!” King said. “The Big Red October!”
*
Trivia answer
Todd Marinovich in 1991.
Raiders fans are praying that neither Brady Quinn nor JaMarcus Russell follows the same career path.
*
And finally
Andy Murray, speaking about the first time he saw Rafael Nadal at a junior tennis tournament: “He kind of had a bowl cut. He was bouncing around, like he used to pick at his shorts like he still does.”
*
