By now you may have heard of the 11-car accident earlier this month in Shimonoseki, Japan. It resulted in more than $1 million in damage to eight Ferraris, two Mercedes and one Lamborghini. “It was,” noted Janice Hough, the Left Coast Sports Babe, “one of the most expensive wrecks of the year. Following perhaps only Kim Kardashian’s wedding.” . . . From Albuquerque, N.M., comes the news that D’Andrea Davis, the manager of the cheerleading squad at St. Pius High School, has been arrested. It seems there is concern about some missing money. Here’s Dwight Perry in the Seattle Times: “You know how that goes: “Two bits, four bits, six bits . . . 18,000 dollars.” . . .
Scott Hanson, in the Seattle Times: “Didn’t get to see Tuesday’s bowl game. The wife wasn’t buying that Florida International vs. Marshall in the Beef O’Brady Bowl was must-watch TV. And I’m not liking my chances for the Belk Bowl and GoDaddy.com Bowl either.” . . . Scott Ostler, in the San Francisco Chronicle: “Sam Hurd says (through his attorney) that he never sold drugs to Bears teammates or other NFL players — ‘out of respect.’ It’s great to see a man sacrifice financial gain to stand by his principles.” . . . Remember John Rocker, the wacky reliever? Turns out he isn’t all that proud of having taken steroids during his career. As he told NYbaseballDigest.com: “I wish the 37-year-old John Rocker could go back and punch 23-year-old John Rocker in the face.” . . .
Steve Simmons, in the Toronto Sun: “The remarkable (Chris) Pronger can be sour at his best, when he’s playing 30 minutes a game and dominating. Imagine just how sour he will be not playing the rest of the season.” . . . Headline at Fark.com: ‘Tebowing’ makes a late fourth-quarter drive to become 2011 Word of the Year. . . . Headline at SportsPickle.com: Doctors clear Colt McCoy to receive more concussions. . . . One more from SportsPickle.com: $55 million federal investigation successfully forces Barry Bonds to watch TV at home for 30 days. . . .
In an interview with a Christian radio station, Albert Pujols’ wife, Deidre, said, “It’s just like God to put us on a team called the Angels.” To which Todd Dewey of the Las Vegas Review-Journal asked: “So who put the players on the New Jersey Devils?” . . . Here’s Orlando Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy, after hearing Deidre’s claim: “God’s a great financial planner.” . . . Notre Dame is scheduled to play Navy in a college football game in Dublin, Ireland, next season. Bob Molinaro of the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot writes: “Guess who’s the home team?” . . .
Ron Judd, in the Seattle Times: “The Protester has been named Time magazine’s 2011 Person of the Year. First runner-up: The Person Stuck In Traffic Due to the Otherwise Admirable Actions of The Protester.” . . . One more from Judd: “Maple Leaf Nation was being called ‘irresponsible’ and ‘reckless’ for pulling out of the Kyoto international climate treaty. Canada was hogging every parking space at the Bellingham Costco and not immediately available for comment.” . . . The TRU WolfPack men’s and women’s soccer teams will be back in the BCCAA for at least one more season, despite years of rumours that they will move into the CIS. If that move is to happen in the near future, I am told it could come about in February, but would be too late for the 2012 season. . . .
Len Berman, from over at thatssports.com, chimes in on happenings in Montreal: “Two groups are planning a January protest in Montreal because Canadiens coach Randy Cunneyworth doesn’t speak French, the primary language of Quebec. How times have changed. Nobody knew what Casey Stengel was saying either and nobody picketed Yankee Stadium.” . . . It was Howie Long, an NFL analyst on Fox-TV, who said this about NFL players and one section of social media: “I don’t know if there’s an Imodium A-D for Twitter, but some players have Twitter-rrhea.” . . .
Defenceman Ladislav Smid of the Edmonton Oilers played in the best league in his native Czech Republic rather than come over here and play junior. “I was playing in the elite league at home and felt I would get more experience playing there . . . plus the money was good,” said Smid, adding that he made “$4,000 to $5,000 a month.” . . . Upon hearing that, teammate Eric Belanger chimed in: “I made $31.47 a week when I played junior in Quebec. That didn’t even pay for gas for the car.” . . .
Forward Devin Gannon, 20, of Kamloop is burning it up with the BCHL’s Cowichan Valley Capitals. He goes into the Christmas break with 45 points, including 29 assists, in 31 games. On Dec. 11, he put up six points, three of them goals, in an 8-5 victory over the Langley Rivermen. Last season, Gannon finished with 52 points in 56 games with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. . . . It was like an early Christmas present when I read in this newspaper on Thursday that George Leach is getting ready to release a new CD. Timing couldn’t be better. My copy of Just Where I’m At is about worn out. . . .
A note from reader Joyce Gibbins after last week’s column: “I am astounded that baseball is setting a dress code for the media when the on-field players look so sloppy. They are stepping on their pant legs because they are too long. I am assuming that is because the cost to hem them is not part of their contracts. And let’s not get into the baggy pants and shirts. Time to set a dress code for players and leave the media to police itself.” . . . Couldn’t agree more. . . . A tweet from New England Patriots receiver Chad Ochocinco: “Sad morning for my daughter . . . it seems her Hamster died this morning, little (so-and-so) fell asleep at the wheel.” . . . Mike Bianchi, in the Orlando Sentinel: “I’m hearing this year Santa Claus’s kids are going to send a letter to Albert Pujols.”
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night. . . . Thanks for being here. . . . Have a good one, stay safe, and we’ll see you in 2012.
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