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Big man off campus
Though Mario Bennett passedon his senior season at Arizona State, he’s still in town after being drafted by the Phoenix Suns. But the big forward felt no emotional tug to visit the Sun Devils’ annual Midnight Madness basketball practice opener.
“I only went once when I was there,” Bennett said. “I was suspended for two of them.”
The story lady
Once upon a time, there was a former showgirl who inherited a prosperous football team from her dead husband and ran it into the ground even though it was in the second largest TV market in America. Then a city desperate for an NFL team sold its soul to lure her there, and she lived lavishly ever after.
But when Rams owner Georgia Frontiere showed up at story time at Scullin Elementary School in north St. Louis, she didn’t read that fairy tale to the two dozen kindergartners. Instead, she read the book “Dear Zoo” and handed out small plastic elephants.
A school spokeswoman said Madam Ram called to offer to read to the children. The school is located next to the MathewsDickey Boy’s Club, which the Rams are renting as a temporary training site.
Many of the students stopped to hug Frontiere as they left, leaving her teary-eyed.
“I really meant it when I said I wanted to take them all home,” she said.
Unfortunately, none of them could afford Madam Ram’s personal seat licenses.
Flagging interest
Who says sports and politics don’t mix? Not the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts, who want fans to show support for a united Canada at Friday’s game with Calgary.
With Quebec’s sovereignty referendum coming up Monday, fans with Canadian flags - or flags painted on their faces - will be admitted free.
“We feel it is an excellent opportunity, given that the game will be shown on national TV, to allow the fans of Toronto to show the viewers of Quebec and the rest of the country their support for a united Canada,” said team spokesman Mike Cosentino.
Players will wear Canadian flag stickers on their helmets and a video will be shown of the team singing the national anthem.
Which might be just enough to prod Quebec voters into opting for independence.
That’s why they pay him the big bucks
Since the 49ers righted themselves by blasting St. Louis last weekend, fans may have already forgiven the play calling that cost San Francisco so dearly in the loss to Indianapolis the week before. To recap: the Niners were on the goal line as the first half was ending and Derek Loville ran a counter play for a two-yard loss.
Offensive coordinator Marc Trestman and other coaches were in the press box elevator, thinking the half was over. Officials added two seconds to the clock, so head coach George Seifert hastily made the call.
Does that make him the uncoordinator?
The last word …
“The Yankees signed Dwight Gooden. Unfortunately, as soon as they put him in the lineup with Darryl Strawberry and Steve Howe, it will be a parole violation.”
- David Letterman
, DataTimes