Keeping Score

Quarterback Jay Cutler of the Chicago Bears was born in Santa Claus, Ind., which, according to Dan Daly of the Washington Times, “explains his coolness in the pocket when the defence is Blitzen.” . . . One more from Daly: “The bankruptcy judge was none too pleased with Michael Vick’s plan to repay his creditors — which, from what I understand, involved ‘building hotels on Boardwalk and Park Place’ and ‘landing on Community Chest.’ ” . . . In order to acquire Cutler from the Denver Broncos last week, the Bears had to give up two first-round draft picks, a third and quarterback Kyle Orton. As Ian Hamilton of the Regina Leader-Post noted: “If he struggles, expect this headline in Denver: Orton hears a boo.”
Jeff Gordon of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, after you know who got to victory lane in a NASCAR race Sunday for the first time in 18 months: “What took the other Jeff Gordon so long to win a race?” . . . The Associated Press reports that baseball’s Grand Prairie AirHogs, a Texas-based team, have scheduled OctoMom Night for June 13. Groups of eight or more get in for half price; if the home team scores eight runs or more each fan gets a ticket to a future game. And among the in-game plans are a diaper derby, a stroller race and a Guess How Many Buns Are in My EZ Bake Oven contest. . . . In the history of Major League Baseball, no player has ever hit his 499th home run with one team and No. 500 with another. It would seem that Gary Sheffield, who was dumped last week by the Detroit Tigers, will become the first and he will do it with the New York Mets.
Congrats for a job well done to the TRU soccer teams at clinics last weekend. It all resulted in Shantelle Cooper of the women’s team meeting up with Michele Walker of the Y Women’s Emergency Shelter this week to hand over $980, the proceeds from those clinics. . . . Supermodel Gisele Bundchen and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady were married a while back in Santa Monica, Calif. And now they have done it again, this time in Costa Rica. As Newsweek magazine asked: “Are they greedy for attention — or toasters?” . . . Reggie Hayes, in the Fort Wayne, Ind., News-Sentinel: “Gun shots were reportedly fired on the paparazzi after Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and model Gisele Bundchen renewed their wedding vows in Costa Rica on Saturday. Brady had no comment, although witnesses heard someone yell, ‘Who invited Plaxico?’ ”
The Canada Cup of Curling apparently drew more than 27,000 fans during its first run in Yorkton, Sask., a few weeks back. Last year, in its last appearance here, it drew 22,785 fans and that was down 7,249 from the previous year. . . . “The Canada Cup is the biggest sporting event ever held in Yorkton,” said event co-ordinator Gord McNabb. “The volunteers were great to work with and really showed their community pride, working hand in hand with the Canadian Curling Association to stage a first class event. In the opinion of many, it was the best Canada Cup ever.” . . . Ouch! . . . Immediately after winning the Formula One race in Australia two weekends ago, Jenson Button and his gal pal, lingerie model Jessica Michibata, disappeared behind closed doors. When Button emerged to chat with the media, he admitted: “It got a bit steamy in there.” . . . As Cam Hutchinson of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix noted: “And to think the winner of the Indy 500 only gets a bottle of milk.”
Centre Ajay Baines of Kamloops is the 2008-09 winner of the Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award as “the AHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of sportsmanship, determination and dedication to hockey.” Baines, 31, is the captain of the Iowa Chops, a first-year team in Des Moines that is the AHL affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks. The award means a lot to players because it is voted on by coaches, players and media members. . . . The Blazers and Radio NL signed a three-year extension of their broadcast agreement earlier this week that will run through the 2011-12 season. Radio NL just completed its 25th season as the voice of the Blazers. . . . There isn’t any word on whether Kirk Fraser will be back for his 11th season as the play-by-play voice on those broadcasts. . . . . The Blazers will open training camp on Aug. 20. . . . Mike Lupica, in the New York Daily News, after the Giants cut a certain receiver: “Plaxico Burress finds out now what a lot of guys like him find out, that you go right out the door the moment you become more trouble than you are worth.”
Greg Cote, in the Miami Herald: “The Dolphins held open tryouts for cheerleaders. Coincidentally, throughout South Florida, men told their wives they had to run to Home Depot and would be back in two hours.” . . . One more from Cote: “Sheik Mohammed, ruler of oil-rich Dubai, has set his sights on one of his horses winning the Kentucky Derby. Step one: Purchase the state of Kentucky.” . . . Cote, again: “Duke lost to a lower seed in a sixth consecutive NCAA Tournament. To Blue Devils fans, for the first time, Coach K is now Coach Not-OK.” . . . Cote had a really big week: “With the Final Four in Detroit, Michigan State being in it had police on high alert should the home favorites somehow win the championship. Remember that people in Detroit have a tendency to react by rioting and setting everything on fire. And that’s just on a normal day.” . . . Not to worry. Michigan State fell, 89-72, to North Carolina in the final.

Gregg Drinnan is sports editor of The Daily News. He is at gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca and gdrinnan.blogspot.com. Keeping Score normally appears Saturdays.