A first look at second chances
We all do things we regret. We tell the wife that, yeah, since you asked, you really don't look good in that dress. We order a fourth bowl of chili. We keep taking Vince Young in the first round of our fantasy drafts.
But what if we could get a do-over, a life-moment mulligan?
Jay Cutler, you're first on the mulligan tee box …
"Before this trade for Cassel thing ever came up, in the two weeks or so I had spent with McDaniels, he was basically telling me that he came to Denver because he wanted to coach me and that we needed to trust each other," Cutler told ESPN's Chris Mortensen. "He's never been critical to me. But trust now? How can I trust him now?"
Do-over: "I'm going on my fourth season in this league, so I understand the realities of the situation. We have a new coach, a new general manager and an owner who wants to give them the latitude to do their jobs. My job is to play quarterback. Their job is to do what they think best helps the team.
"Sure, I was disappointed to be involved in trade discussions. Who wouldn't be? But I took the non-trade too personally and overreacted. In retrospect, I can see why Coach McDaniels was interested in Cassel. They have a great history together. But it didn't happen, so Coach and I will patch up our differences and move forward. That's what a pro does."
The NCAA men's basketball selection committee …
Do-over: 19-13 Arizona out, 26-6 St. Mary's, which played without star Patrick Mills for much of the second half of the season, in.
"Here's what happened," committee chair Mike Slive said. "We were so punch-drunk after watching six freakin' overtimes of UConn-Syracuse that some of the guys started screwing around with the big board. You know, like, pretending to diagram sentences on the bracket lines, or saying, 'Wouldn't it be funny to watch Jim Nantz's face if we made Radford a No. 1 seed?' Or, 'Let's take St. Mary's off the 34 at-large list and tell everyone we did it because nobody knew what a Gael was.' That sort of thing.
"Anyway, we remembered to move Radford back to a 16th seed, but we completely forgot to put St. Mary's back in. So my bad on that."
Golf guru Hank Haney …
How best to describe Sir Charles' swing? Hmmm. Imagine watching someone take the club back, then watching them lunge forward, stop in midswing -- long enough to watch all 2 hours and 47 minutes of "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" -- and then cold yak so far left that you need Search and Rescue teams to find it. That's Barkley's swing.
Do-over: (Haney weeping hysterically) "I can't do it. I can't. I can't. I can't."
Drew Rosenhaus …
"I believe that the organization is going to regret this decision," Rosenhaus told Miami radio station WQAM. "I believe Terrell is not only going to have a Pro Bowl season with the Bills and cause a lot of sleepless nights for AFC defensive coordinators … I also believe the Cowboys are going to miss him and that they are going to regret making this move."
Do-over: "Whaddya expect me to say? That he's also going to cause a lot of sleepless nights for quarterback Trent Edwards and coach Dick Jauron? If I do that, then T.O. will be in my driveway doing sit-ups.
"I love the guy, but if he screws this Bills thing up then I won't be able to get him a gig in the Punt, Pass and Kick competition."
Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun …
"My advice to you is, shut up," Calhoun said to the freelance reporter who asked the question.
There was more, none of it Calhoun's finest moment.
It was an unexpected place for the line of questioning -- a postgame presser after a win against South Florida -- but Calhoun's response was devoid of sensitivity for anyone struggling to get by on less than $1.6 mil.
Do-over: "Given these economic times, you ask a fair question. When I'm done discussing the game, I'll be glad to talk with you about our program and the millions of dollars we generate for the university.
"But in short, yes, I have a substantial salary. And as a blue-collar guy who has worked for decades to create a national program at UConn, I'd like to think I give this university its money's worth. I have great empathy for the working people in this state. I'm blessed to earn what I earn -- and I never forget that."
CBS golf analyst and swing teacher Peter Kostis …
Mickelson went on to win the Northern Trust, finish T-9 at the Accenture Match Play Championship, and then win his next stroke-play tournament, the World Golf Championships-CA Championship at Doral this past weekend.
Do-over: Kostis: "Clearly I didn't put in enough time preparing in the offseason."
Oklahoma senior center Courtney Paris …
"We're going to win a national championship this year," she said on OU's Senior Night. "We're going to win one. If we don't, which is not even an option, just to put something on the line, I will personally … pay back my scholarship because I didn't do what I said I would do."
Paris' scholarship is worth about $64,000. OU, which didn't even reach the Big 12 Conference title game, lost to Connecticut earlier this season by 28 points. Undefeated UConn is the heavy favorite to win the women's NCAA tournament.
Do-over: Don't do it, Courtney! Don't take a mulligan.
If the Sooners fail to win it all, then pay $1,000 a year for the next 64 years. Or here's guessing 64,000 OU fans will donate $1 each to pay off the gutsy guarantee.
And count me in for at least one George Washington.
Gene Wojciechowski is the senior national columnist for ESPN.com. You can contact him at gene.wojciechowski@espn3.com. Hear Gene's Podcasts and ESPN Radio appearances by clicking here.
- ESPN.com senior national columnist
- Joined ESPN in 1998
- Author of "The Last Great Game"
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