Cheap Seats
Can love affair last? From the Emerald City, a.k.a. Fantasyland, comes this Associated Press report on Washington coach Rick Neuheisel:
“Rick Neuheisel can hear the boos already. The coach who left the Colorado Buffalos to take over the Washington Huskies last year returns to his old digs for the first time on Sept. 16.
“The game will surely bring out Colorado fans’ anger for the coach. But while he might be despised in Boulder, he’s now loved in Washington, where he has helped turn the team into a Rose Bowl favorite this season… . The fast talker with the movie-star smile will get nothing but cheers from Washington fans this season, who are happy to have a top team once again.”
Now the truth: He will get nothing but nasty jeers from those same fans if the Huskies can’t live up to the lofty expectations.
Swinging for nothing
Think Mark McGwire felt pressure when he was going for the single-season home run record in 1998? Imagine how Florida Marlins leadoff hitter Luis Castillo must feel. Castillo has nine RBIs this year and is on pace to drive in 13, dangerously close to the all-time record for fewest RBIs by an every-day player (450 at-bats or more).
Enzo Hernandez holds the dubious record with 12 in 1971. The amazing thing is, Castillo ranks among the league leaders with a .359 batting average, but the back end of that Marlins batting order obviously hasn’t been setting the table for him.
Getaclue.com
NFL owners have discussed how to divide profits from an expected Internet windfall. They don’t seem as interested in quality control: NFL.com’s depth chart for Carolina - updated on Aug. 7 - has Fred Lane listed as a backup tailback.
Lane had not only been traded to Indianapolis during the off-season, but then had been shot and killed.
Brotherly love
Former Formula One champion Michael Schumacher and his brother, Ralf, race for different teams in the world championship series. Asked if he would like his brother as a teammate, Michael said:
“If that happened, it would mean that one of us has to win and one has to lose, and we wouldn’t like that. I think things are best the way they are.”
The last word …
“You guys know my prediction, I don’t need to say it. You know who it is. The lady in purple.”
- U.S. Open prediction by Serena Williams, who wore a purple dress all week.