Boise State running back Ian Johnson is in the hospital with a collapsed lung after Broncos 23-20 win over San Jose State. The story I read about Johnson said "he (Johnson) did not speak to reporters after the game." Yep, a collapsed lung will do that to you. I can hear the reporters now. "Ian, how serious is your injury?" Johnson-prolonged, wheezing sound. Reporters-"Just one follow up to that Ian...."
The headlines said "Bears Handle Giants In The Rain". Being handled by Bears in the rain can't be considered a good thing. It's also interesting that all the experts who were saying a week ago the Bears had not played anyone yet and weren't for real are writing stories today headlined, "Road to NFC title runs through Chicago." I stand by my belief, however wrong headed, that when the going gets tough the Bears will get gone. (The ones in Chicago).
Will Jaret Wright be able to stand the media glare now that he has gone from the Yankees to the Orioles? I understand Anna Benson (wife of ex-Met, now Oriole Kris Benson) is going through severe media withdrawl and the "Lutherville Weekly Shopper" is no longer returning her calls requesting they interview her.
Tomorrow is a big day in baseball, as the winning bid on Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matzusaki is announced. Legal scholars have said that under the doctrine of "original intent" the 13th amendment does not apply, as Congress at the time of passage did not extend emancipation to Japanese baseball players.
Police evidence in the case of Stephen Jackson of the Indiana Pacers is that he returned to his car during a fight, got a handgun, and returned to fire five shots before being struck by a car. He was on probation for his part in the "Malice at the Palace" melee last season in Detroit. According to his lawyer, "He is doing great. He's a great guy who loves
Indiana, loves the team, loves playing for the people of Indiana." A better question might be whether the attorney has told Jackson his home address.
In hockey news, I read where the Avs are dealing Parros and the Flyers are acquiring Fedoruk. Back home they caught a guy dealing Parros one time. I think he's still locked up down in Raleigh. As for acquiring Fedoruk, that hasn't caught on here yet, but with so many Yankees moving in these days I suppose it's just a matter of time.
Speaking of people desparate for a good time, The Columbus BlueJackets (I have no idea why they are called that) announced that 14,078 people attended their game against the Chicago Blackhawks. How starved for fun do you have to be to want to attend a Chicago-Columbus game? The game ended 1-0 when a player (not a dog) named Lasse scored the winning goal. "It was a great pass from Smoke," Lasse (the hockey player) said. "Marty just got out of
the way and the goalie didn't see anything."
I see where Kelly and Pampeling have won the Merrill #### shootout in a playoff. Now, if they had won a playoff in a shootout, that would be news (or a night out in the NBA).
And finally, my favorite quote of the day, from Kansas State football coach Rob Prince. "We were coaching our brains out there at the end."
Stephen Jackson is an #### and a thug. Every time Stern tries to do something to clean-up the league he ends up being involved in something stupid. In my opinion, I think he (along with DJ Jazzy Artest) is one of the big reasons why Indiana has struggled in the playoffs the past few years.
