Quick Kicks
Party hearty…har…har
It was billed as the World’s Largest Players and Fans Party. It turned out to be a big bust, and “host” Deion Sanders was caught in the middle.
Sanders was one of the few big names to show up for the first two days of the gala event at the Dallas Convention Center, but he wasn’t taking any of the blame.
Sanders said Saturday he had asked teammates and friends to attend, but that he couldn’t force them to show up.
The poor turnout by the guests of honor - whose names had been listed in television advertisements for several weeks - drove away fans, which in turn infuriated vendors. Several packed up Saturday vowing not to return for the third and final day Sunday.
Among the athletes scheduled to attend were NFL Hall of Famer Tony Dorsett, Dallas Cowboys Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith, Dallas Mavericks Jason Kidd, Jim Jackson and Jamal Mashburn, and Dallas Star Mike Modano.
Sanders angered many fans.
“We came all the way from El Paso and I was excited about getting Deion’s autograph and I’m thankful he signed my shirt, but he had a real attitude,” Stephanie Salas, 19, said. “He didn’t even bother to look up at you.”
Seven-year-old Zack Zghool, who waited for three hours, also was hurt by the experience.
“Deion Sanders was a meanie,” he said. “They just pushed your card and made you move out of the way fast. He didn’t say anything.”
Other athletes were better received, especially Dorsett, Jackson and former Cowboy Tony Hill. They all signed, smiled and took pictures with babies.
O’Donnell KO’d in warmups
Jets quarterback Neil O’Donnell could miss the rest of the season after he pulled his right calf muscle in warmups Sunday.
O’Donnell, out for six games with a separated shoulder, was cleared to play earlier in the week. But on a slick field during pregame warmups in the rain, O’Donnell planted his right leg and pulled the muscle. He was carted to the dressing room and declared out for the game, with Frank Reich playing against Houston.
Coach Rich Kotite said O’Donnell could be out one week of four weeks.
Smash, boom, powwow?
You couldn’t tell by the broadcast booth that Sunday’s game between the Rams and New Orleans Saints was a matchup of teams with a combined 5-19 record. Fox’s No. 1 team of Pat Summerall and John Madden called the game at the Superdome. The two were in Dallas to cover Thursday’s Redskins-Cowboys game and made the short trip to New Orleans. Saints owner Tom Benson took advantage of Madden’s visit, asking him to serve on his advisory committee to search for a new coach. Benson said he asked Madden, and he plans on calling him at a later date to discuss it in detail.
Local watch
Central Valley High School grad Mike Hollis made his way into the Jacksonville Jaguars record book by kicking five field goals against the Cincinnati Bengals. Hollis connected from 25, 46, 40, 39 and 20 yards in a 30-27 victory… . Former Idaho Vandals quarterback Doug Nussmeier saw some extended playing time for the Saints. Nussmeier replaced Jim Everett and completed 7 of 15 passes for 101 yards.