Cheap Seats
Now, about those non-refundable fares …
After players complained about the food, late flights and poor service, the Toronto Raptors decided to drop Air Canada as their charter carrier.
No big deal. Except that the team’s new arena, due to open next season, will be named the Air Canada Center. The airline is paying $20 million to put its name on the joint.
Air Canada chairman Hollis Harris said the split was mutual because the airline couldn’t do things the team wanted and “we’re going to see if we can work it out before next season.”
In the meantime, the airline is stuck with an Airbus A-320 in Raptors colors while the team hunts for a new charter company.
Hello, Chutzpah Airlines?
The pen is mightier than the state pen
Another cartoonist is in hot water with Nebraska football fans, not that he cares.
A recent editorial cartoon by Steve Benson in the Arizona Republic depicted a small boy telling Huskers tailback Lawrence Phillips: “Wow, Mr. Phillips! What a big national championship ring!” To which Phillips replies, “That’s what my girlfriend said when I punched her with it.”
In addition to Phillips, who had “Public Enemy” added to the “1” on his jersey, the cartoon showed two other Huskers who’ve had brushes with the law and a smiling coach Tom Osborne, who is holding a trophy inscribed “The Osborne Trophy, Most Assaults, Robberies, Arrests.”
Naturally, Nebraska fans in Arizona are irate.
“We’re going to go to war and demand an apology for Tom Osborne,” huffed Jack Hart, a former managing editor of the Lincoln Journal. “It would seem like even a cartoonist has to go by the truth.”
Benson said he was just doing his job.
“If that image is one that’s uncomfortable, be grateful for it,” Benson said. “Don’t kill the messenger, deal with the message.”
Which is - and correct us if we’re mistaken - “I’ve got the First Amendment, neener, neener, neener.”
Like Camden Yards?
For the lack of anything notable on the Hot Stove League front, we bring you this beauty from the last baseball season out of the mouth of CBS radio commentator Jeff Torborg: “Wrigley Field - it sort of reminds you of some of the old ballparks.”
Did I mention I have a boat?
Here are Bruce Lietzke’s top two ways to spend a Saturday without golf, according to Golf magazine:
“1. Sitting with my wife and family in a boat in the middle of any lake.
“2. Sitting with my dog in a boat in the middle of any lake.”
We’ve always admired him from a Favre
From the Good Doctor in Inside Sports magazine:
“Q: How old was quarterback Brett Favre when he got his first football?
A: Fouvr or fivre.”
The last word …
“To be honest, I don’t know why teams keep signing me.”
- Catcher Lance Parrish, signed by the Pirates at age 39
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo