My thanks to Cam Hutchinson for supporting this creation. Cheers DJW

Friday, August 3, 2007

Down and Wide Outs

NBA referee Bernie Fryer who recently resigned says many of his fellow refs buy lottery tickets in the hopes they can leave their job. Psychologists have a name for this condition, it’s called “being human”.

Detroit Lions rookie wide receiver Calvin Johnson signed a 6 year contract worth $64 million. Asked if he was satisfied Johnson said “no question”. Brian Burke of the Anaheim Ducks later called officials with the Lions and blamed the high salary on Edmonton Oilers GM Kevin Lowe.

Detroit Tigers infielder Neifi Perez was suspended for 80 games Friday after testing positive for a third time for a banned stimulant. A spokesperson for Neifi says he is wrestling with some problems and was in a hurry to get on with his life.

Florida Gaters Ronnie Wilson has pleaded no contest to battery and discharging a firearm, Texas Longhorns Andre Jones was arrested and booked into jail on an aggravated robbery charge and former Northern Colorado player Mitch Cozad is in court charged with attempted first-degree murder and second-degree assault. With all these incidents coming so close to training camp College Football officials are concerned the players may not be in game shape for opening day.

USC has been named the favorite for the national football championship in a survey conducted by former USC players from across America. In second place was last year’s USC team.

James Harney a former State Trooper was sentenced to 5 years in prison for setting up an illegal betting ring. The sentence was to be expected as his own site had him at 3:5 to get 3:5. Under terms of a plea bargain he will be eligible to referee prison baskeball games in about a year.

Former NHL player Rick Tocchet who also faces charges is expected to submit the Phoenix Coyotes-Detroit Red Wings defense and plead no-contest.

NiShea Dukes the estranged wife of Tampa Bay Devil Rays picture Elijah Duke, called the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office to complain that he and an unidentified woman made harassing phone calls to her in contravention of a restraining order. Asked for his response Elijah said he was on “Who wants to be a Millionaire?” and she was his lifeline.

Nikolay Davydenko is under suspicion after it was revealed $7 million in bets was placed on his match with Martin Vassallo Arguello which is 10 times the usual amount, and most of the money was on Arguello to win, which he did after Davydenko withdrew citing an injury. Most damaging was the fact all of the money was placed on an obscure bet that Davydenko would retire with a sprained foot, in the 3rd set while down 2-1. The odds of this happening are so high the computer used to determine odds quit as well.

Two Cuban boxers who disappeared during last month's Pan American Games were found at a resort near Rio, where police say they partied and ran up an exorbitant tab. Now, a police inspector says, they want to go back to Cuba saying “nothing goes better after a big meal than a good cigar”.

Hamburger company Wendy’s say they will return with their “Kick for a Million” promotion with the CFL. The contest was in doubt earlier when a Wendy’s official said negotiations with the league had turned “frosty”.

I’m not sure what has more sugar in it a Wendy’s frosty or watching the CFL Halftime Show. The boys seem so sweet on each other they might want to check their blood sugar.

Thursday, August 2, 2007

August 2 2007

Owner Craig Leipold of the Nashville Predators has agreed to sell his team to a group of local investors for $40 million less than what was offered by Jim Balsille. This is what comissioner Gary Bettman calls “taking one for the teams”. To compensate Mr. Leopold for his loss Mr. Bettman is planning to give him some of his gall and arrogance.

Zach Parise has signed a new 4 year $12.5 million contract with the New Jersey Devils. Asked what prompted the signing Parise said “ I don’t know, I told GM Lou Lamoriello I was visiting Edmonton and bingo”.

Toronto Argonauts Frank McMahon is the only quarterback to visit Calgary and throw an incomplete pass at Cowboys.

Out of respect for all the off season gun incidents NFL players will wear their holsters at half mast.

In an effort to keep athletes on suspension in shape the NFL is mulling over the possibility of a Hall of Shame Game.

Tenessee Titans quarterback Vince Young got into an altercation with one of his own teamates causing the coaches to shudder at the prospect of their franchise player breaking his throwing hand. Vince is now being given lessons on how throw imaginary punches like a baseball player.

Rookie NFL quarterbacks JaMarcus Russel and Brady Quinn are still training camp holdouts. Russel wants more money from the Raiders and Quinn is looking for the Browns to issue a correction and say they took him with the 3rd pick and not 22nd.

The cartwheel Paula Creamer did in front of the Swilcain Bridge wasn’t nearly as good as the one Sergio Garcia did when Padraig Harrington put a shot off it on the 18th hole of the British Open.

Most depressing sound for golfers at the practice rounds for the Bridgestone Invitational Golf Classic was Tiger Woods muttering “Baby needs new Booties”.

Wednesday, August 1, 2007

August 1 2007

Yu Zhenhuan the world’s hairiest man is asking to be a part of the Olympic Torch Run citing his brush with fame and wanting to make a permanent contribution.

In a nod to Michael Vick NFL teams will now assign #7 to players dogging it in practice.

Three time formula one champ Nelson Piquet was forced to take a Drivers Ed class after racking up too many points on his license. The most common infraction for Nelson was passing on the shoulder.

After missing another game the only person with an ankle more closely monitored than David Beckham is Lindsay Lohan.

After hearing the NY Rangers tear into him during his arbitration hearing smack talker Sean Avery was quoted as saying ‘If you can’t say anything good about someone you shouldn’t say anything”.

After selling out their season tickets despite having little luck upgrading their team in the off season the PR Representative for the Edmonton Oilers figures guys just want to have a chance to go somewhere without their wives.

Complaining of a stiff back that could cause him to miss the next tournament Jim Furyk says he now regrets asking for his Canadian Open winnings in loonies.

After hearing Italian golfer Alessandro Pissilli tested positive for Finasteride a drug used to treat hair loss I guess my hat’s off to him. Now that golfers are aware of the dangers of treating hair loss there will be fewer players making the cut.
I guess Michael Strahan figured if his wife could get an increase in her divorce settlement by using the words “feeling betrayed” he’d give it a shot.

Chicago Bulls Eddy Curry and Antoine Walker of the Miami Heat have both recently been robbed while living in Chicago. They both say this will not cause them to consider moving to Edmonton. Curry was robbed of jewelry estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands and his wife lost some too. Curry said her losses were limited because he doesn’t fool around.

A professional gambler says he suspected another gambler was benefiting from insider information given to him by referee Tim Donaghy. “No gambler I know would bet Memphis to beat the spread”.

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

July 31 2007

Suspended NFL player “Packman” Jones is said to be in talks with TNA Wrestling possible employment. Asked if he was concerned about the lengthy list of charges against Jones a TNA official said they believe everyone is innocent until proven unable to sell tickets.

Headline “Yankees trade Proctor and Gamble on Betemit”

Jury selection in the trial of Mitch Cozad the Northern Colorado back-up punter accused of stabbing the starting punter in order to get the #1 job began today. Lawyers for Mr. Cozad asked potential jurors if they watched CSI, had formed an opinion from the media or believed punters weren’t really “athletes”.

A huge Day in Boston where the Celtics acquired All Star Kevin Garnet, the Red Sox acquired Cy Young winner Eric Gagne and the Bruins have yet to be mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.

American soccer superstar Freddy Adu has signed with the Portuguese team Benfica. This is a sign of the growth in player development in the US. It usually takes years for a player to sign with a European second tier league.

Rod Beck an ex-major league picture who recently died in a car accident had suspicious substances found in his house. They included a white powdery substance on the roll top desk, a loaded semiautomatic handgun, and a bag containing numerous glass bowl pipes and torch lighters or as Lindsay Lohan calls it reasonable doubt.

The president of the National Association of Sports Officials Barry Mario is worried the fallout from the NBA betting scandal will affect the reputation of their profession. A spokesperson for fans said the referees can expect the same respect they have always been given.

Monday, July 30, 2007

July 30 2007

Curt Schilling pitched 5 scoreless innings in his second start after rehab and credits his success with not going to the same clinic as Lindsay Lohan.

A cat in a nursing home is said to be able to predict a patient’s death by cuddling up to them just before they expire. The only cat more comfortable around loss is the mascot for the Detroit Lions. In addition to lying with the terminally ill the cat also enjoys watching the Tour de France.

With near record low scores the only event this weekend with more sub par performances than the Canadian Open was the movie “Chuck and Larry get Married”.

With so many unknowns on the leader board, the only place where the odds of getting lucky the first time were better was at a CD signing by Paris Hilton.

Calling broadcaster Bob Costas a midget was even for Barry Bonds a low blow. Now when you type in tightrope, sideshow and midget in a Google search you get a picture of Barry Bonds.

Donovan McNabb says he can be an elite quarterback when he is only 75% healthy so you can only imagine the potential once he gives us NFL minimum 110%.

Michael Vick has had his trading card removed by Upper Deck, his jersey discontinued by Rebock and his shoe contract with Nike cancelled. In what is being called an unrelated event the PR Manager for Vicks Vapo-rub is recovering in hospital after “accidentally” shooting himself 7 times.

After going through a bitter divorce NY Giants defensive end Michael Strahan says he is considering retiring to avoid an even worse fate 2-a-day practices.

I know it looks bad on the Stahl brothers but what is more Canadian than two hockey players filled with Molsons?

Headline after PGA golfer Jay Williamson fire his caddy on the 15th hole of the Canadian Open “Caddy Sacked”

Letting tour player Davis Love design the course for the Canadian Open meant it was going to be a player friendly event. What next? The Sidney Crosby sloping ice or the Chad Johnson trampoline field and of course the Alex Rodriguez 180’ left field fence.

Jose Canseco is back in the news and has once again talked with Senator George Mitchell about steroid use. Jose now has a better attendance record than most US Senators. The big problem with the publishers of Jose’s new book is to whether to release it as a fiction or non-fiction.

Co-defendant Tony Taylor has pleaded guilty and will testify against Michael Vick. Taylor is quoted as saying “hey it’s a dog eat dog world bro” and “they threw me a bone and I took it ‘cause the charges could fetch a big sentence”

Frank Gore of the San Francisco 49ers broke his hand in a non-contact drill and later found out his wife is pregnant despite being on the pill, foam and sponges.

In a tribute to Bill Walsh the pallbearers will line up in the West Coast Offence so he can go deep one more time.

Headline in Cleveland “Holdout Brady wants a Bunch”