Keeping Score

Let’s see if I’ve got this straight. . . . Jim Barker, the head coach of the Toronto Argonauts, states publicly how much he likes B.C. Lions quarterback Travis Lulay. B.C. Lions GM/head coach Wally Buono follows up with: “Say what you want, but you can’t do that. Indirectly, that is tampering.” . . . Tampering? The same man, David Braley, owns both teams. Welcome to the CFL, where the ‘C’ doesn’t stand for credibility. . . . So does Braley feel happy or sad after his teams met last night in Toronto? . . . Who would have thought a guy could prepare to win the British Open by visiting family in Kamloops and playing the Mount Paul course? . . . And how many local hackers are thinking they saw Louis Oostenhuizen bunting it around one of the area courses at one time or another? . . .
Former major league pitcher Bill Lee, who did a stint with the Boston Red Sox, had his share of run-ins with the late George Steinbrenner. So what did the Spaceman think of the death of The Boss. “As far as Steinbrenner’s passing? Good,” he told WMUR-TV in New Hampshire. “Trust me, if hell freezes over, he’ll be skating.” . . . “That next thunderstorm you hear,” claims the Left Coast Sports Babe, “is probably George and Billy Martin reuniting somewhere.” . . . After Steinbrenner’s death, The Babe also noted: “Many people are now crossing ‘Yankees’ off their bumper stickers and substituting ‘My favorite team is whoever is playing the Heat.’ ” . . .
When LeBron James showed up in New York for Carmelo Anthony’s wedding, the New York Post ran this headline: Welcome to NY, Jackass. . . . Greg Cote, in the Miami Herald: “LeBron, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh signed Heat contracts worth a combined $328 million. Or, what Tiger Woods’ ex, Elin Nordegren, calls ‘a down payment.’ ” . . . Scott Ostler, in the San Francisco Chronicle: “Dan Gilbert, owner of the Cleveland Groveliers, charges James with the ultimate sin, quitting on the team during the playoffs. Yet Gilbert groveled to give the Quittin’ King $100 million to come back and quit some more. Get back to us, Dan, when you can explain.” . . . Might the U of San Diego Toreros men’s basketball team make a stop in River City next month? Stay tuned . . .
In case you missed it, country star Carrie Underwood and Ottawa Senators forward Mike Fisher got married the other day. Comedy writer Jim Barach noted that there was a problem: “The hard part was figuring which side of the aisle had fewer teeth.” . . . If you watched the British Open — or the Open Championship, as it is referred to these days — did you get the feeling that Tiger Woods is just another golfer these days? And would you agree that he needs a body language coach more than he needs a swing coach? . . .
Here’s a new game to play as you drive around town. On the first day of the week, you take a number — say, 50 — and then go over-under with the number of drivers you see talking on cell phones over the next seven days. . . . By the way, if it’s 50, I’ve got the over. . . . Ron Judd, in the Seattle Times: “Nielsen ratings show that the LeBron James Exercise in Ego special on ESPN was viewed by 12 million to 14 million viewers. And you wonder why we can’t get people to grasp the concept of Keep Right Except To Pass.” . . . In Canada, where far too many drivers don’t have a clue what that lever is on the left-hand side of the steering column, only 280,000 viewers took in LeBron’s ugly exit from Cleveland. . . .
Michael Jordan, in conversation with The Associated Press“ “There’s no way, with hindsight, I would’ve ever called up Larry, called up Magic and said, ‘Hey, look, let’s get together and play on one team.’ But that’s . . . things are different. I can’t say that’s a bad thing. It’s an opportunity these kids have today. In all honesty, I was trying to beat those guys.” . . . If you haven’t seen it yet, you don’t want to miss The Two Escobars. It’s part of ESPN’s 30-for-30 series and it is dynamite. Watch for it on TSN. . . . If you’re like me, you’re wondering when TSN and Rogers Pokernet turned into movie channels . . .
Gotta think Bill O’Donovan of CFJC-TV was first in line at the video store on Tuesday to pick up the Chicago Blackhawks’ highlight DVD. Finally, he’ll be able to put away the tape of the 1961 season. . . . Bobby Hull, who was with the Blackhawks when they won the Stanley Cup in 1961, didn’t drink out of hockey’s holy grail until . . . “First time I drank out of a Stanley Cup,’’ Hull told Elliott Harris of the Chicago Sun-Times, “was when (Detroit defenceman) Chris Chelios brought it to his golf outing. They knew my shoulders were so bad, they poured a couple of pints of beer in it and lifted it up so I could drink beer out of it.’’ . . . There were no Stanley Cup tours back in ’61. Players just returned home and went back to work at their real jobs. . . .
A note from Dianna Hartnell informs that the 10th annual Dolson’s Peter Puck Hockey Camp, which runs Aug. 16-20 at the Ice Box Arena, is full. This camp will be one with a difference, or five. She has a six-year-old boy from Germany registered, along with a brother and sister from Saudi Arabia. Yes, that Saudi Arabia. Also registered are two brothers from Brussels, who aren’t believed related to the Muscles from Brussels. But, really, you just never know. . . . A reminder to area charities. If you would to get a piece of The Daily News Christmas Cheer Fund this year, visit our website (kamloopsnews.ca), click on the Christmas Cheer logo and get in your application. OK? . . . “I miss the World Cup so much,” scribbles comedy writer Alex Kaseberg, “I decided to hang out at the pier and watch the fisherman haul in their fish just so I could see something flop.”

Gregg Drinnan is sports editor of The Daily News. Email him at gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca, or visit his blog at gdrinnan.blogspot.com. Keeping Score appears Saturdays.