ON THE ROPES - Sports

ON THE ROPES

Sunday, Oct 05, 2008 - 12:07 AM

Article Tools
Email a Friend RSS digg it	Printer Friendly Mobile Alerts Sphere IT Save This Page

Different kind of wake-up call

For what it's worth, Jim Haslett learned he was being asked to take over as interim coach of the St. Louis Rams in a phone call . . . at 1:15 a.m.

Said Haslett: "Who calls you at 1:15 in the morning? Usually, it's a prank call."

The Rams are so bad, it still might be.

That's being overly optimistic

The city of Chicago might have outdone itself when trying to curtail any possible Cubs fans' celebrations. It asked that all bars and restaurants around Wrigley Field stop serving alcohol after the seventh inning of any potential title-clinching games, but they can start up again if the games go into extra innings.

If the Cubs actually do clinch anything, which doesn't appear likely, it seems like a small price to pay.

Political wild cards

Upper Deck, which makes trading cards, is getting vice presidential candidates Joseph Biden and Sarah Palin into the act, or on the cardboard.

Biden is shown as former Senators pitcher Walter Johnson. Palin is on the basepath in a dog sled, holding a fishing pole and wearing a tiara.

Reality check

Sounds as if the Tennessee Titans aren't exactly overconfident, despite a 4-0 start for the first time in franchise history.

Said linebacker Keith Bulluck: "We still have a chance to go 4-12."

Odds and ends

At Fark.com, on Cubs great Ernie Banks, 77, and his wife adopting a baby girl: "Contrary to reports, he did not adopt two."

At SportsPickle.com, on the Dolphins' stunning upset of New England: "Patriots fans leave early to go put on Red Sox and Celtics jerseys."

Some 99.8 percent of Red Sox fans say that Johnny Pesky getting his number retired was long overdue, at least according to our Pesky poll.

How many surplus hits has Ichiro Suzuki stockpiled in his eight years in Seattle?

Put it this way: He could go 0 for 600 next year - and still be averaging 200 hits and change for nine seasons.

That billboard in Times Square designed to publicize TBS' baseball playoff coverage? Yes, it's the New York Mets' David Wright, who appears in the playoffs on billboards only.

The Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard, who won the dunking contest at the all-star game wearing a Superman costume, is entering a deal in which he will wear the Superman emblem on the back of his shoes, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

Illegal Chuck Dept.

The Winnipeg Sun reported that Blue Bombers defensive end Kai Ellis "throws up all over his uniform during games, partly to alleviate his acid-reflux problem and partly to throw off opponents."

Well, that ought to cut down on the holding complaints.

That's saying a lot

Driver David Coulthard, to The Associated Press, on prepping for the first night race in Formula One history: "I am staying up late at night, I am going out to nightclubs, and I'm eating a lot of carrots."

Greg Cote of the Miami Herald, on the Russian sumo wrestler banned for marijuana: "Just what a guy that size needs: the munchies."

From wide receiver Dante Hall of the 0-4 and 3-17 (dating to last season) St. Louis Rams: "I was just thinking. We've won three games in 20 tries. That's bad, man."

He's a Lego man

In recreation news, Darren Smith, 32, of Exeter has amassed England's biggest Lego collection - more than 2 million bricks - filling his entire garage and a converted loft.

Though a cynic might suggest he's still a few bricks shy of a load.