Kicker Discovers Life Without Pressure
Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher, on allowing kicker Al Del Greco to line up deep behind quarterback Neil O’Donnell when O’Donnell was taking a knee on the final play of Sunday’s 35-3 victory over Cincinnati: “I just told them that if we got in a victory situation, I was going to put Al back there and let him feel what it’s like to go on the field without his heart in his throat.”
Mum’s the word
Heisman Trophy winner Chris Weinke spent six years playing minor league baseball. His bio in the Florida State football media guide reports that he “owns a .500 average against Roger Clemens (1 for 2).”
“If Roger hears about this,” says John McGrath of the Tacoma News Tribune, “he’ll barge into the Orange Bowl in fatigues.”
None of the above
When Danny Ainge resigned as coach of the Phoenix Suns a year ago Wednesday, he was subjected to all sorts of rumors:
“I heard that my kids were in drug rehab, that I was having an affair, that I was in drug rehab and that I was going through a divorce,” Ainge told Bob Young of the Arizona Republic. “I’ve heard just about everything, and I just have to laugh at it.”
So, why did he resign when the Suns had a 13-7 record?
“Ultimately, I felt what I was doing - coaching basketball - had no redeeming value… . I was missing out on too many things that were important to me.”
He’s not himself these days
Peter Vecsey of the New York Post, on the recent problems of Utah Jazz center Olden Polynice: “Why should we be surprised Polynice has been impersonating a policeman in Salt Lake City? He has been impersonating an NBA center for years.”
That’s not so bad. For the past 10 years, Vecsey’s been on NBC impersonating someone whose opinion we care to hear.
Redskins headed in wrong direction
Thomas Boswell in the Washington Post, on the underachieving Redskins: “The Washington Redskins are like Nasdaq. Just when you think they’ve found a bottom, they go lower.
The last word …
“I see that Tony Gwynn has signed a new contract with an incentive clause based on plate appearances. From the looks of Tony, he must have thought they were dinner plates.”
- Tom FitzGerald of the San Francisco Chronicle, quoting reader Jerry Klein of Albany, Calif.