You Might Be A Redneck If …
Oklahoma offensive coordinator Gary Nord is on the defensive after some unflattering remarks. Even OU president David Boren demanded an apology. “I was kidding around,” Nord said of the comments published in a Louisville paper. “I basically was saying, ‘I thought Kentucky was hillbilly, but y’all win.”’
A story about Howard Schnellenberger’s arrival as OU’s coach quoted Nord regarding a bus tour of Oklahoma. “It was really good,” Nord said. “I thought the damn Kentucky people were hicks, but these people win hands down. I should’ve taken a dentist with me. I didn’t see a full set of teeth the whole time I was on the road. Rednecks. But they welcomed us with open arms. Every town was packed.”
Not your typical street-smart fighter
“I wuz robbed!” It’s one of boxing’s oldest sayings, although Oliver McCall would probably deny it.
McCall arrived in St. Louis last week carrying a check for $1,405,238 - earnings from an unsuccessful defense of his WBC title Sept. 2.
According to police, McCall and his wife were on a flight from Las Vegas when they had a quarrel. In Kansas City, McCall decided to take a bus to St. Louis. When he arrived, he had trouble getting a cab, so he accepted a ride from two men. Once in the car, McCall began to doubt the sincerity of the pair, so he hopped out in Cochran Gardens public housing complex. It was 3 a.m., and three men were waiting. One had a pistol. The three took $400 in cash and the paycheck McCall had stashed in his sock. Police quickly arrested two of the suspects and recovered the check, which had been signed by promoter Don King. The suspects were released, however, when McCall refused to press charges.
In fact, when reached by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch at his downtown hotel, McCall denied there had been a robbery. “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. “I love St. Louis. What robbery? I wasn’t robbed.”
Just skin, baby
An Italian gossip magazine has published pictures of Olympic skiing champion Alberto Tomba in the nude. The flashy Italian sports hero did not blush, but said those responsible should be ashamed. “This is some sort of garbage journalism,” Tomba said, adding that the magazine printed “old pictures, taken in a sauna several years ago, when I was not yet a popular skier.”
The magazine has also published nude pictures of Prince Charles, Formula One driver Jean Alesi and King Juan Carlos of Spain.
Excuse me
Montreal reliever Mel Rojas has nearly 30 saves, but he’s known around the clubhouse as a chronic complainer. After a game in which he was yanked after being shelled, reporters were waiting for Rojas when general manager Kevin Malone walked by.
“You’ll probably be waiting for a time,” the GM said. “The excuse man is probably busy thinking up another excuse.”
Sure enough, when Rojas arrived, he said he should have had 10 more warm-up pitches to get ready.
The last word …
“If it’ll make a few bucks for NFL Properties, they’ll put it in Iraq with Saddam at fullback.”
- Jimmy Johnson, on the NFL looking to move the American Bowl from Tokyo
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo