At Rams’ camp, all the gridiron is a stage
St. Louis Rams head coach Scott Linehan, the former University of Idaho quarterback and assistant coach, sees positives in picking up running back John David Washington as a free agent.
Washington, a prep star at Campbell Hall in North Hollywood, Calif., and a record-setting running back at Division II Morehouse College in Atlanta, is the son of actor Denzel Washington.
“This is a good story,” Linehan said. “I hope he’s a good running back.”
Coincidentally, Linehan’s brother-in-law is actor Jim Caviezel, who portrayed Jesus in “The Passion of the Christ.”
Linehan envisions Denzel Washington and Caviezel possibly showing up at training camp the same day.
“I hate to tell Jim, but I think most of them will be looking for Denzel’s autograph,” Linehan said. “But they should start with Jesus first.”
Second billing
Maybe the younger Washington should have signed with another NFL team. Wrote Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times:
“Tennessee fans were stunned that he didn’t remember the Titans.”
Real lettermen
Scrabble anyone? The right side of the Kansas City Royals’ infield contains more letters than any other in big-league history, noted Gordon Edes of the Boston Globe.
The surnames of first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz and second baseman Mark Grudzielanek combine for 24 letters.
The previous record-holders? Joe Cunningham and Red Schoendienst of the 1954 St. Louis Cardinals, who combined for 22.
That’s not a bad idea
Asked by the host of ESPN2’s “Cold Pizza” what he would name a horse if he had one running in the Kentucky Derby, Woody Paige replied, “Cyrano de Bergerac because I’d like to hear at the end, ‘Cyrano de Bergerac wins by a nose.’ “
One advantage to age
More than 3,000 golfers annually post a score that is their age or better.
The Los Angeles Times reports recently retired sports broadcaster Keith Jackson first shot his age shortly after turning 67.
Now 77, he has shot his age or better every year, and he did it three weeks ago with a 76 on the Los Angeles Country Club’s South course.