Resurrecting The Champ

Erik Kernan is a newspaper writer covering boxing for the Denver Times whose stories are always relegated to page 20 in the sports section. Then he finds the Champ, a former 185-pound contender who now lives homeless on the streets, and together the history of the great pugilist is written. Or rewritten. Because the Champ has actually been living the illusory life another boxer, one long dead. Starring Samuel L. Jackson and Josh Hartnett. With Rachel Nichols as the press babe Polly. Available at the Dallas Public Library where, since checking it out is without a price, it is priceless.

America's Pastime Is Past Its Prime Time

It's the World Series for crying out loud. Baseball's ultimate event. The (Tampa) Bay Rays are there for the first time. So let's check the Dallas Morning News SportsDay for coverage. Pagone is the beginning of two stories on the Dallas Cowboys and another on Texas high school football. Page 2 is briefs and boxers on the NBA with an article on the Mavericks exhibition game. Yes, exhibition game. Page 3 is all Cowboys except for a small ad titled, "Great Sex Forever." Page 4 is NFL/golf/motor sports. Page 5 is college football and women's college basketball. Yes, women's college basketball. Page 6 is Rangers baseball, a big ad for whiskey and, wait, there it is, a full half-page article on Game 1 of the Big Show. Complete with the box score and scheduled games.

The Rodney Dangerfield of sports can't even decide when to throw the first pitch. Some games begin at 7:29 while others begin at 7:35. Perhaps it depends on if Wheel of Fortune goes into overtime.

Spread Offense

Extremely popular in Texas high school football. In this photo, the offense is in white, the quarterback is out of the shotgun with one running back to his left (most likely to block) and four receivers (one partially hidden). Generally high scoring.

Boys Will Be Boys

What I'm reading right now. Chapter 9 is about Charles Haley.

The Enigma That Is #16

His résumé is succinct:
Sean Avery. The most hated man in hockey.

His seven seasons in the NHL have been in the barns of the Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers and now the Dallas Stars. An antic he pulled once in last season's Stanley Cup playoffs, legal at that time, brought a new rule the next day:
"An unsportsmanlike conduct minor penalty will be interpreted and applied, effective immediately, to a situation when an offensive player positions himself facing the opposition goaltender and engages in actions such as waving his arms or stick in front of the goaltender's face, for the purpose of improperly interfering with and/or distracting the goaltender as opposed to positioning himself to try to make a play."

His contract will earn him $15.5 million over the next four years.

Mrs. Tiger Woods

Elin Nordegren.

Last Home Run At Yankee Stadium

And who gets to keep the ball?

Everyone needs a good lawyer.

Football Betting

Every should know what the "spread" is in football. For Sunday's game, Dallas began as a 12 point favorite over Washington. So if you bet on Dallas, the Cowboys would have to win by more than 12 points for you to win. Win by less than 12, or lose, you lose. Win by exactly 12 and it's a push, or no win/no lose. These spreads are picked by some very knowledgeable people who have worked the Las Vegas sports books for years. Check this one out.

Yogi Berra Says Goodbye

Tony Romo Can Go Home Again

Tony Romo is from Burlington in the (great) state of Wisconsin. In Wisconsin there are only two football teams of note: the Green Bay Packers and the University of Wisconsin Badgers.

Tony Romo went to Eastern Illinois. Wisconsin didn't recruit him because they had a quality QB in Brooks Bollinger. In last night's game in Green Bay, the Cowboys started QB Tony Romo. They made inactive their #3 QB, Brooks Bollinger.

The Cowboys won their first ever game in Lambeau Field.

Final Game At Yankee Stadium

Julia Ruth Stevens, 92, daughter of Babe Ruth, threw out the ceremonial first pitch for the final game at Yankee Stadium. Attendees included Yogi Berra, Reggie Jackson, Willie Randolph, Paul O'Neill, Whitey Ford and Don Larson. Mickey Mantle couldn't make it because he's dead.

Mark Cuban's Blog

blogmaverick.com.

Josh Howard Salutes His Mouth

But not the National Anthem.

I heard one idiot whitebread say that due to America's past treatment of blacks, there should be no surprise at his actions. WHAT? Just how long does it take for some whites to get over the guilt of the past, and for some blacks to get over the antipathy? One generation? Three generations? Never? I've seen American military men and women of all stripes and colors returning from duty in Iraq and Afghanistan and would hazard to guess that 99% are very patriotic. And just where else does Josh Howard think he can use his athletic prowess to earn the kind of money he does and be able to afford his $1.5 million house at 6306 Linden Ln?

And while I'm having a jones for question marks, just who made up the rule that we must play the National Anthem at sporting events?

Run Forrest Run

Charlie Engle is a running fool. He's attempting to break the record for running across the United States. This tidbit of information was not found in the sports pages. It came from an advertisement for Super 8 motels. He has to have some place to sleep!

Comics Quote

The cat with the 'tude, from today's Get Fuzzy cartoon:

"The Winter Olympics are like a liberal with a baseball bat: You may not like him, but you have to respect him."

The New York Football Giants

Just why do radio sports dudes call them the New York Football Giants? You don't see that term in print or hear it on TV. There are no other giants in New York. No one says the Los Angeles Baseball Dodgers or the Boston Basketball Celtics. Who started this and why did it catch on?
Stupid.

The Billionaires' Yacht Club

And America's Cup. And $10 million.

Catfish Noodling

Who needs a fishing pole when you can just stick your arm down the catfish's throat!

New York Times article.

Snopes.com proves it.

Fishing Texas Online discusses it.

Wheaties Box

This picture sucks.

LPGA: Speak English

The LPGA will now require those on their tour to speak English. There are currently 121 international players. That might be more than their TV viewership!