Cheap Seats
Donkey basketball redefined
Led by a four-piece Dixieland band playing “Sweet Georgia Brown,” a triumphant Montana Senate marched en masse to the House chamber in Helena on Friday to claim the winner’s trophy in the biennial House-Senate basketball game. The Senate, which hadn’t prevailed for many years, won Wednesday night’s game 55-44.
A winner’s trophy was presented to the Senate, and laughter erupted when a much larger and more elaborate runner-up trophy was presented to the House. “I want to say what a pleasure it is for the House to see members of the Senate awake this early,” House speaker John Mercer quipped.
Wake up, a-little Eddie, wake up …
Oklahoma State coach Eddie Sutton had an excuse after showing up late for Friday’s news conference in Baltimore, where his Cowboys opened the NCAA Tournament.
“I just got up,” said Sutton, irked by not tipping off Thursday’s late game until 10:25 p.m., when the Alabama-Penn game finally ended.
“I don’t think it’s fair to either team,” Sutton squawked. “Television puts so much money into this tournament, and I understand you have to go along with them. But when you have an East Coast game that’s the last game being played in the country, there’s something wrong.
“I think you guys (the media) would get tired of lying around in a hotel all day long.”
Don’t bet on it, Eddie.
Rinky-dink arrangement
A lot of good that shiny new United Center has done the Chicago Blackhawks. Because the building is busy and it takes 8 hours for the transition from basketball to hockey, the Blackhawks have been forced to practice at other facilities in the Chicago area.
In some cases, the team has had to dress at the United Center, drive to practice at another rink, then drive back to the United Center to shower. “It’s ridiculous,” Blackhawks star Jeremy Roenick said. “There has to be some kind of answer.”
Roenick thinks he has it, suggesting the team make a permanent home at a rink southwest of Chicago. Roenick just happens to be part-owner of the rink.
And here comes the judge
Burnie, the mascot of the NBA’s Miami Heat, has been charged with language misdemeanor battery after his dance routine fell flat at a recent exhibition game in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Seems he picked a reluctant partner in Yvonne Gil de Rebollo - the wife of Francisco Rebollo Lopez, a Supreme Court judge. Despite her protests, Burnie - real name Wes Lockard - tried pulling her onto the court. She alleges she was dragged across the floor, bruising her right arm and breaking her purse.
The last word …
“Fifty damn freeloaders.”
- Charles Barkley, on family and friends who made trip from his Alabama hometown to Atlanta for recent game against Hawks