Heather, Let’S Huddle Up
Bears quarterback Cade McNown wasn’t answering only football questions last week in Chicago.
He had to talk about whether or not he stole Cleveland quarterback Tim Couch’s girlfriend, 1999 Playboy Playmate of the Year Heather Kozar, by shipping her a Porsche from Chicago to Los Angeles.
According to a report in Sports Illustrated, Couch introduced her to McNown as his girlfriend and McNown went on the offensive with gifts, including his Porsche. Kozar has since moved to Chicago.
In terms of wins and losses, McNown is a downgrade for Kozar. Who’s next, Akili Smith?
Under the hood
After A.J. Foyt underwent angioplasty heart surgery last month, this is how he explained it: “I’ve got five balloons and three stents (skin graft anchors). I guess it’s kinda like a valve job.
“My blood pressure was like 175/90 so they put me on some medicine. Now, it’s 140/60. It’s like they retarded my spark.”
Bite the hand that feeds you
Chicago Tribune columnist Bob Verdi gives his view of the just-completed Sydney Olympics: “I don’t understand why some of the country’s greatest newspapers, including this one, send fleets of talented reporters and columnists to the Olympics to write all those stories that apparently aren’t being read by the same people who aren’t watching television.”
Mo better players
T.J. Simers of the L.A. Times had this observation about the Anaheim Angels: “Angels first baseman Mo Vaughn wants the front office to make a serious off-season commitment to improve, saying: `I want to get ourselves in the best position to win as soon as possible.’ “I believe he wants the Angels to petition Major League Baseball to allow him to hit off a tee next season instead of facing live pitching.
“This would let him cut his 178 strikeouts in half - OK, by a third.”
Answering to the boss
Oakland Raiders coach Jon Gruden insists that he is not under any more pressure than normal from owner Al Davis: “I feel pressure when I go to Walgreen’s, wondering if I got the right size diapers for my 3-year-old. Believe me. When my wife gets on me, that’s pressure.”
That’s entertainment
Bernie Lincicome in the Rocky Mountain News, commenting on Oakland Raiders fans: “Nothing is more repulsive than an Oakland crowd with its shirts off. … Between plays, Raiders fans played connect-the-scars on each other.”
The last word …
“I’m going to start thumb wrestling.” - Chicago Cubs pitcher Rick Aguilera, on how he will rehabilitate his broken thumb.