Everything was his fault
It apparently was time for Paul Hackett to go. The New York Jets offensive coordinator, and former USC coach, resigned last week under pressure.
Hackett was a target of media and fan criticism for his conservative play calling, and also had little internal support remaining.
Even coach Herman Edwards, Hackett’s longtime friend, supported Hackett’s decision.
How bad had things become for Hackett in New York?
Pretty bad, according to Bob Glauber, Newsday’s NFL columnist.
“Not enough touchdowns? Paul Hackett’s fault. Offense too conservative? Blame Hackett. … Pizza guy forgot the pepperoni on the takeout order at the late-night coaches’ meeting? Must be Hackett.”
A fan? What’s he doing in Tokyo?
The curse might have been lifted, but not totally, as far as Boston-area resident Steven Manganello is concerned.
The lifelong Red Sox fan was hit by a taxi on Oct. 1 while vacationing in Tokyo. He spent four weeks in a hospital drifting in and out of consciousness, thereby missing the team’s World Series triumph.
“I get hit by a car and boom, they win the Series,” Manganello told Bill Simmons of ESPN the Magazine. “If you loved the Red Sox and waited your whole life for this, how would you feel? It’s brutal.”
He did add that he was thankful to be alive.
Do you speak snowboard?
Snowboarding sensation Shaun White, among the competitors at the Winter X Games, which begin Saturday at Aspen, Colo., showed why he’s one of the world’s best during a warmup rail-riding event at nearby Vail.
Transworld Snowboarding magazine, which covered the event, showed why the sport is so difficult for mainstream audiences to follow. White won by “50-50 to gapping the kink on his way up, and then 50-50ing back down the kinked rail to 360 out,” the online report described. “He also 270ed onto the kink and tore apart both C-rails.
“Yeah, he kinda just did it all.”
Whatever it was.
With apologies to Yogi
Fox broadcaster Joe Buck, who will be profiled Tuesday night on HBO’s “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel,” was working as an announcer in the minor leagues at 19 and in the majors at 21, thanks to his father, legendary sports broadcaster Jack Buck.
Asked by correspondent Bernard Goldberg whether he considered that nepotism, Joe replied, “Absolutely. And I think nepotism is great, as long as you keep it in the family.”
Nothing to brag about
Shaquille O’Neal on the Miami Heat’s 97-68 victory Sunday over the doormat New Orleans Hornets: “This isn’t a game we should be proud of. This game is like taking your kids to the zoo. You’re supposed to take your kids to the zoo. You’re a father. So a team like that, we’re supposed to beat them like this.”
The last word
Letter writer Peter T. Juliano of Buffalo, N.Y., to Sports Illustrated: “I noticed that you are offering subscribers the option of not receiving the swimsuit issue. Is there an 800 number I can call to receive some of the unwanted copies?”