Cheap Seats
In the meantime, take out the garbage
Vancouver Canucks general manager Brian Burke is in no hurry to trade disgruntled right wing Pavel Bure, despite public pressure.
“Panic should not be part of a general manager’s vocabulary,” he said. “And it’s certainly not part of mine. It’s like being in love with a woman who’s not in love with you. You’ve got to wait.”
A man for few seasons
The Raiders are known for rehabilitating players, but Jeff George may be a challenge.
George has missed much of the season because of a groin pull and didn’t help matters by going on the radio recently and volunteering to sit out the rest of the way.
“We’ve been spoiled around here, without a doubt,” notes Ann Killion of the San Jose Mercury News.
Killion cites local legends like Joe Montana, rising from a hospital bed after back surgery to lead the 49ers into the postseason; Steve Young starting a playoff game with cracked ribs; even Jeff Hostetler dragging onto the field in the early ‘90s.
“What George did last week may not qualify as bizarre behavior in Indianapolis or Atlanta,” writes Killion. ” … Then, again, we’re used to quarterbacks with a higher winning percentage than .370.”
Take two humility pills and call me …
It was a 12-step program for Kansas State’s football team to reach the national championship game, but the Wildcats (11-1) failed the last step by losing to Texas A&M in the Big 12 championship game.
Now comes the recovery process. Here’s Step 1, according to Mechelle Voepel of the Kansas City Star:
“You are not allowed to slug anyone, scream at innocent checkout clerks, drive like an idiot or destroy property that doesn’t belong exclusively to you. But you are allowed to sulk through dinner, not get much done at work, feel sad and be ticked off.”
A place where everyone forgets your name
Boston Bruins defenseman Dave Ellett owns a sports bar in Ottawa with Los Angeles King defenseman Garry Galley. Playing time has been tough to come by for both players, and business is down.
“It’s hurting sales,” Ellett said. “People don’t see us in the lineup so they leave.”
The little woman and the big lockout
Amid speculation he wants to return to college basketball, New Jersey Nets coach John Calipari has been visiting campuses, supposedly to look at players.
Calipari says there’s an explanation:
“What’s the other option for me? Staying home and having my wife threaten to call David Stern and settle this thing?”
Just don’t throw the puck
The NHL is trying to figure out how to get teams to play for wins rather than ties in overtime, leading to some imaginative proposals, like one by Colorado general manager Pierre Lacroix that teams play three-on-three in the extra session.
“I said, ‘Why not start the game with three guys?”’ Edmonton Oilers president Glen Sather told the Toronto Globe and Mail.
“Just think of the money we could save. Or no goaltender, if you want to decide the game. Or have one team not use sticks.”
The last word …
“Because nobody walks out in the middle of my speech.”
- Boxing great Archie Moore, who died last week, explaining why he liked to speak at prisons.