Cheap Seats
Holy Toledo!
Oilers linebacker Michael Barrow was more than just grateful to be leaving training camp in San Antonio and returning to Houston.
“I felt like I was in Egypt in biblical days,” Barrow said. “Interstate 10 opened up like the Red Sea. When camp ended, we said: ‘Part it, Moses, and let’s get the hell out of here.”’
Is that any way to address Moses?
TOGA! TOGA! TOGA! Police broke up a party involving Colorado football personnel near Boulder one night earlier this month because of excessive noise.
Perhaps surprisingly, firstyear head coach Rick Neuheisel chose not to establish a rigid disciplinary code by meting out punishment. The reason? The party was at his house! When the cops showed up, Neuheisel and his band were playing “Brown-Eyed Girl.”
The 34-year-old Neuheisel was unrepentant. “You know what they say,” he said. “It’s not a party till the cops come.”
Neuheisel also called off a two-a-day practice session for his freshmen and took them tubing on a river near campus.
Can the football program be far behind?
You’ve got your Rekars, your Koufaxes …
In a tribute to his formidable skills at the plate, Colorado pitcher Bryan Rekar may soon consider changing his name to “Rekkkkkkkkkkkkar” - spelled with 12 straight Ks. Rekar provided one of the season’s great batting feats this month when he actually grounded out. Before that, the rookie had struck out in a dozen consecutive at-bats, two short of the major-league record shared by Bill Hands, Juan Eichelberger and Jose DeJesus.
Sandy Koufax actually holds the record for strikeouts in consecutive plate appearances with 12; Rekar and the others all managed at least one walk or sacrifice bunt in their streak.
“At least my name is getting mentioned a little bit with Sandy Koufax,” shrugged Rekar.
It was worth a shot
Rick Gosselin covers the NFL for the Dallas Morning News. Before each season, he breaks down several categories for each team - strength, weakness, etc.
Gosselin concludes each team’s preview with a best-case scenario. For New England it’s, “an AFC East championship if … the Patriots sweep the Dolphins.” For defending Super Bowl champion San Francisco, it’s “an NFL championship if … the 49ers resign Deion Sanders.”
As for the Seahawks? “A playoff berth if … Seattle could play in the Pac-10.”
One problem, Rick. The Pac-10 doesn’t have a playoff.
The last word …
“I miss my Labor Day weekend. I don’t eat barbecue, I eat jailhouse food. That’s terrible.”
- Timberwolves forward Isaiah Rider, sentenced Wednesday to four days in jail
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo