Extra Cheese
Phils can thank Mets management
Let's take a moment from the heady rush of the Phillies' going to the National League Championship Series and look back at the team that made this all possible: the Mets.
Those lovable Metropolitans nearly pulled it off. So close. As September wore on and the team started to struggle (again), as the incentive of playing the last season in Shea Stadium began to lose its luster, the Mets' brain trust searched frantically for some move, any move, to pull this one out of the fire and boost the team to a postseason berth, one it had crushingly missed on the final day of last season.
AMY SANCETTA / Associated Press
These Chinese gold medalists may be too young to remember 2000, but gymnastics officials do.
And then it happened: The executives pulled out all the stops and, in a bold stroke, signed general manager Omar Minaya to a contract extension. Sighs of relief could be heard throughout Flushing Meadows, reverberating all the way to Long Island Sound. They locked up the guy who stole Billy Wagner (thanks, Omar!) from the Phillies.
Here's to you guys, and hoping you can repeat the feat next season.
Of course, picking up a dependable reliever down the stretch might have made more of an impact.
The Wisconsin marching band has been suspended while allegations of hazing, alcohol abuse and sexual misconduct are investigated.
The band did not play Saturday during a nationally televised home football game between the Badgers and Ohio State.
This is outrageous! Who do those band members think they are, football players? Maybe they were just tuning up for this weekend's Penn State visit.
Kelly Slater won an unprecedented ninth world surfing championship last week in Mundaka, Spain. "The rewards have paid off for a lot of work and commitment to surfing my whole life," Slater said. "I'm stoked. I just try to do the best I can with what I've got."
Wow, he committed his life to surfing. The rest of us envious folks could only commit our lives to Getting A Job. (Does channel-surfing count?)
BOULDER, Colo. - Detroit Lions linebacker Jordon Dizon has been sentenced to 24 hours of community service for driving while ability impaired.
What exactly does this mean, "ability impaired"? That he was unable to play nickel defense? That he couldn't cover the tight end on a buttonhook? This DWAI is evidently different from driving drunk or driving under the influence. You gotta love lawyers. Next: driving while agonizing over the incongruity of purple tones in yesterday's sunset (DWAOIPTIYS).
RIALTO, Calif. - They're a relentless force on the gridiron, with a stinging defense. But don't expect anyone to cheer for the Rialto High School fire ants.
Discovered by a groundskeeper, the venomous red pests have set up several moundlike colonies on the football and baseball fields. The Southern California school canceled a freshman football game, moved practices, and called the state Department of Agriculture.
"They're from South America," said Syeda Jafri, spokeswoman for the Rialto Unified School District. "How they got here, we have no idea."
Here's one field where you definitely will NOT take a knee late in the game.
Quick hits and headlines
Athletes to donate brains for concussion study
No, no, no, no, no, I can't do it. This is too easy. You do it. Just fill in the name of your favorite athlete. And don't pick the easy joke, about not waiting to pass away before donating his or her brain. I had that one first.
FIG investigating China's 2000 team, too
Though the case is (giggle) closed on China's Olympic gold medalists, the age controversy in gymnastics is far from over.
So even if the Chinese gymnasts were 17 years old in the Olympics just ended, they would have been 9 years old in 2000. This shouldn't be too tough an investigation for even the International Gymnastics Federation. Hey, get that embryo off the uneven bars!
Patriots top receiver Troy Brown retires
Losing your quarterback for the season and then getting wiped off the field by the Miami Dolphins has a way of putting these decisions into perspective.
Where are Nationals fans? Attendance, ratings low
Let's see, they finished 59-102. Gee, where do you think all those Nats fanatics could be? Hello? McFly?
Quotable
"I'm going to have quite a few beers to celebrate. . . . I'll make sure I'm in the best possible mind-set and the best physical shape to go out there and pitch."
- Cole Hamels after Sept. 27's division-clinching win over Washington, which gave him the day off Sunday.
And in last week's playoff opener against the Brewers: eight innings, two hits, no runs, nine strikeouts. . . . Barkeep, I'll have whatever he's having.
This article contains information from Inquirer wire services.
Contact staff writer Al Campbell at 215-854-5414 or acampbell@phillynews.com.
