Browns within King’s realm of possibility
In the latest effort to turn around the Cleveland Browns, Coach Eric Mangini looked to none other than NBA superstar LeBron James.
“I think he should come on down,” Mangini told reporters. “I know he’s pretty busy right now, but if he wants to give it a shot, the guy is gifted. He’s competitive and tough. I’m sure whatever he applied himself to, he’d probably be good in baseball or soccer or swimming.”
The invitation came after James, a high school standout in both basketball and football, told the Associated Press on Tuesday he could turn around the struggling franchise.
“If I put all my time and commitment into it,” James said, “if I dedicated myself to the game of football, I could be really good no matter what team I was on.”
As for team chemistry, well, there is at least one player who wouldn’t like the move.
“I just don’t think you can step off the basketball court after not going through this year in and year out and just play football,” Browns nose tackle Shaun Rogers told reporters.
“From that standpoint, I just don’t think it’s possible. You have to weather and condition your body to take this punishment.”
Trivia question
Who is the only NHL player to score a goal in all five possible game situations in the same game?
Deep pockets
With Super Bowl XLIV taking place Feb. 7, 2010, at Land Shark Stadium in Miami, American, Delta, Northwest and United Airlines are charging an extra $50 to passengers flying from the Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach airports the day after the big game.
“Whether it’s called a surcharge or a fair change, it comes down to the same thing: good old supply and demand,” American Airlines spokesman Tim Smith told CNBC.com.
Trivia answer
On Dec. 31, 1988, Pittsburgh Penguins center Mario Lemieux scored goals in even-strength, power-play, short-handed, penalty-shot and empty-net situations against the New Jersey Devils.
And finally
Washington Capitals winger Matt Bradley scored the game-winner Tuesday against the New York Rangers after leaving the first period to get stitches for a cut above his left eye after a fight.
“I regularly bleed, so it is nothing new,” Bradley told the Washington Times. “It seems like my skin is pretty paper-ish, so a few stitches and no big deal.”
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