Who Dat the new phrase that pays
Who wasn’t happy for the New Orleans Saints outside of Colts fans?
The Saints won Super Bowl XLIV straight up. They outplayed Indianapolis after the first quarter. Just shows what destiny can do. Actually, upsets are becoming the norm in the Super Bowl.
My Washington Examiner column says this game will be known more for gadget plays, kickers and defense than the quarterbacks, but it was still a good game.
Super Bowl matchups to watch
One nice thing about the internet is days like this when practically no one can see the print edition but can read my column online. I remember the old days thinking no one would see the paper.
Anyway, I run down lots of different Super Bowl matchups today in the Examiner, including a New Orleans museum betting a painting with its Indianapolis counterpart.
How grim are Grimm’s chances?
Former Redskins guard Russ Grimm is among 15 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday. But, getting to the final five is tough.
My Washington Examiner column runs down the numbers. Grimm’s chances look, well, grim.
Cooley’s back
Chris Cooley’s funny bone must have healed with his ankle. After a long break, the Redskins tight end is back. Here’s his video with some college humor site, which is fairly funny.
Sammy Baugh makes the Super Bowl
Well, his jersey at least. The Redskins greatest player ever, Sammy Baugh’s jersey from a late 1940s game is on auction at HuntAuctions.com as part of a Super Bowl memorabilia sale.
There’s already a bid of $19,800 as officials expect it to go around $30,000.
My Washington Examiner column explains why the jersey is so rare and worth the dough.
Super Bowl media day = overkill
Dwight Freeney’s ankle was the busiest joint in town.
The Indianapolis Colts pass rusher may not play in Sunday’s Super Bowl. Or he might. Or he might play a little. Or a lot. You get the idea. The NFL Network talked about it for two hours, everyone with a different opinion.
My Washington Examiner column says it’s just another media day where nothing is above beating into the ground.
Scouting the Redskins 4th pick
Do the Redskins go with a quarterback at No. 4 in Sam Bradford or take an offensive tackle in Russell Okung?
Those are just a couple options as Washington spends the next three months deciding that question only to maybe see someone grab the person they want in the first three picks.
My Washington Examiner column discusses Plan A, B, C and D.
Game Change - not a sports book
Actually, it’s the dirtiest sport of all — politics. I always laugh that we take covering the Redskins so seriously, but we’re children compared to political writers. These guys would devour us.
Game Change is a behind-the-scenes look at the 2008 presidential election following Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, John McCain and Sarah Palin.
Lots of good nuggets. Some insight into John Edwards’ denied womanizing that shows what a slime bag he is. And to think I considered voting for him. Imagine if Edwards had won and this illegitimate kid surfaced? It would make Bill Clinton’s nonsense look like a schoolboy crush.
I thought the first 200 pages were OK, Very exhaustively researched on Obama-Clinton campaigns, but exhausting to read. Pages 200-300 were better, but I was still disappointed. But, 300-440 were excellent and made the book worth reading. The stories on McCain and Palin were real page turners.
If you enjoy the game of politics, which is Washington’s real game, then read the book.
Terps have shot in scrambled ACC
The ACC looks as uncertain as it has been in years with North Carolina already losing three straight and Virginia rising from the dead. But Maryland has looked as good as I’ve seen them since 2003 with the last of the national championship crew.
My Washington Examiner column discusses why the ACC has gone topsy-turvy.
And back to Walls Bakery
I stayed away for a few months, but I found myself walking in the Waldorf bakery yesterday looking for an eclair.
The large glass case that holds probably 100 was empty.
Son of a ^^%$%^$#.
Then I saw someone buy one. Wait a minute. Are they now sold under the counter? Actually, there were more in the back. The clerk brought me some. Life is good.
How many do they sell a day? Sometimes 500 I was told.
Glad there was one left for me.
Let the drama begin
Super Bowl week has become too big. It’s not two weeks.
My Washington Examiner column previews all the story lines and they often revolve around Peyton Manning.
Archie’s boy versus Archie’s Team
Let the Peyton Manning stories begin. Actually, I’ve already written mine.
My Washington Examiner column says Manning is not the fool he pretends to be on a ba-zillion commercials. He’s one sly passer, carving up the Jets defense for the AFC Championship. Now the Indianapolis Colts passer has to be Who Dat person that ruins New Orleans’ dreams in the Super Bowl, which I think he will.
NFL kills second London game
The NFL has decided against a second game in London this fall, according to Pro Football Talk.com.
The website quotes an NFL release saying the pending collective bargaining agreement and fears of the continued global recession as reasons after wanting to expand to a second game. San Francisco meets Denver on Oct. 31 at Wembley Stadium.
NFL sources said the Redskins at Jacksonville game was among those being considered. However, Jags owner Wayne Weaver recently said he wouldn’t take away a home game despite selling out only once this season.
Favre shows 40 is new 30
OK, I wandered off the reservation for once, writing about something other than Washington sports for my column today in the Washington Examiner.
Brett Favre tries to make his third Super Bowl as Minnesota plays New Orleans today. It would be a storybook ending. I think the Saints and New York Jets will advance, but I’ll give Favre credit for finishing stronger than the last two years.
Something to do around town
Sometimes we learn more over what’s happening from tourists. I learned a few things.
Remembering George Michael
The late NBC-4 sportscaster George Michael was remembered yesterday at the National Cathedral before more than 500 people.
My Washington Examiner column recalls Jim Vance regaling stories of his close friend. Joe Gibbs talking of their times on the TV sets and his children remembering how dad spent time with them.
Davidson was more than race fixer
My Washington Examiner column remembers Maryland-Charles Town jockey Jesse Davidson, who died Sunday at age 69.
Davidson was among four riders convicted of fixing a sporting event in what became known as the 1975 St. Valentine’s Day Massacre at Bowie. Davidson’s brother bet a triple 38 times that paid $35,000 total with the four riders not finishing in the top three. One jockey committed suicide, the other three served 4 1/2 months in prison and returned 10 years later to the circuit. Jesse rode four years before a spill ended his career.
I knew Davidson during his late 1980s return when I was a daily turf writer for the Washington Times. Jesse was always nice to me. A little guarded as you might expect, and I always wondered what was his true involvement in the scheme. He just didn’t seem the type.
I called Joe Kelly yesterday for his opinion. Joe covered the races that day for the Washington Star, In fact, Joe picked the first two finishers of that race in the paper, which he said later earned him a visit from track security over his knowledge.
Joe, 91, can still remember the race well. He felt Jesse maybe went along with the deal, not wanting to cause trouble. That sounds right to me. Life on the backstretch can be hard if you’re not one of the top riders. I’m not condoning race fixing, which still goes on today. But, sometimes it’s a matter not of greed, but survival for these guys in a very dangerous profession.
