Thursday, August 18, 2005
Page 2 Quickie: August 17, 2005
The Lead Item
Two Words For You:
ALL. BUSINESS.
Three things you shouldn't expect T.O. to have
said to Andy Reid when they met this morning, clearing
the way for his return:
"I'm sorry."
"The money's fine."
"I'll be good."
But after T.O.'s PR debacle last week, there's a
sure-fire strategy to stay out of trouble and maintain
his enormous ego:
The Silent Treatment.
Shut up, and catch passes.
Shut up, and do the drills.
Shut up, and sidestep media.
Fans will respond to a get-to-work ethic. Coaches and
teammates will appreciate the lack of distraction. The
media will simply be that much more attentive.
It won't be easy: To bray is core to T.O.'s very
being. But he knows his toughest August rehab is his
image. That can only happen on the practice
field.
He doesn't need to apologize to his coach, his QB or
anyone else. In fact, he shouldn't. It's asking too
much.
But in exchange for letting him off the hook for his
tirade last week, he better not say anything else,
either.
Bonds: September?!
Oh, Barry: Why do you tease?
"Two weeks ago things didn't look too promising, but
the past 10 days my rehab has taken a turn for the
better."
You can be sure that MLB execs would be thrilled with
that September "call-up," sparking interest in
otherwise meaningless Giants games.
MLB Tues Wrap
ChiSox lose in 16: 4th L in row,
precisely the number of L's they'll take in the ALCS
before being exposed as a regular-season
mirage.
D-Rays still own Yanks: Most impressively, they
forced Mo Rivera into a rare blown save (Eduardo Perez homered in 9th), ruining the
return of Randy Johnson.
David Ortiz is sick: Not health-wise, but
performance-wise. Game-tying HR in 9th, game-exploding
HR in 10th to carry Boston over Detroit.
Kerry Wood Watch: Seems to take to relief work.
Pitches another scoreless inning, and the Cubs beat
the Astros. He's the anti-Schilling!
Thome has his elbow surgery. Is he done in
Philly? Phenom Ryan Howard is installed. (Next stop:
Swap to Boston for Manny in the offseason?)
KC Loss Streak: Now 17 games!
(Only 5 more to top '88 O's)
NCAA, NIT Settle
NCAA to buy NIT? Lawsuit settlement
could bring college hoops closer to my dream scenario:
Expanding the NCAA Tournament.
"Bye" the best 48 teams into the NCAA Tournament, then
have another 64 battle it out in an expanded NIT for
placement in final 16 Big Dance spots?
NBA: Finley Watch
Which team should Michael Finley sign
with?
Heat?
Pro: A-list teammates, $$$
Con: Where are his shots?
Suns?
Pro: History with MVP Nash
Con: Money is pretty small
(But $50 mil richer, so?)
Spurs?
Pro: Best chance at a title
Con: It's still in Texas
Mascot H.O.F.
Congrats to inaugural class:
The San Diego Chicken!
The Philly Phanatic!
The Phoenix Gorilla!
No qualms with the inductees, but where are the
college mascots? Uh, don't expect Chief Osceola (Fla.
St.) or Chief Illiniwek (Illinois) anytime soon.
Quickie 50/50: TX
Impressions of Texas:
Football: High school football, college football, pro
football, pee wee football (OK, maybe Hakeem, the
Spurs and Clemens, too).
Vote Best of Texas
here!
