Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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