The Pips: Starting QBs Donovan McNabb, Tommy Maddox and Brian Griese went down Sunday and will be backed up Koy Detmer, Kordell Stewart and Steve Beuerlein, respectively, in their next games. If you’re scoring at home, that’s six QBs starting for playoff-caliber teams, zero of them named Henry Burris.
Moss def: We haven’t heard much from Randy Moss lately and, admittedly, it’s been nice. But for those of you who think he’s all mouth, you should know that he broke Jerry Rice’s record for most receiving yards in his first five seasons with 6,160.
All NIT long: The preseason National Invitation Tournament got under way tonight with a little local flavor: Eastern Illinois is in the crowd. The Panthers beat Boise State 73-59 and will likely play Florida in Gainesville. Nothing like a free trip to warm weather just as Illinois’ cold is heating up. No, that doesn’t make sense but you know what we mean.
OH YEAH: North Carolina started a long road back from an 8-20 season tonight with an 85-55 win over Penn State. We’d like to see the Tar Heels return to prominence just so we don’t feel bad for loathing them so much.
FRANK THOMAS: Big guy, baseball player, used to be good. You’ve probably seen pictures. Anyway, he’s still a free agent. In case you forgot.
Straightjackets required: ChicagoSports.com polled readers and asked them: “What do you expect out of Dusty Baker in the 2003 season?”
– 42 percent said “a .500 season”
– 27 percent said “Nothing less than the playoffs”
– 22 percent said “A nervous breakdown.”
The next Fred McGriff: When the major league all-stars played Japanese all-stars, Hideki Matsui, who intends to play in the majors next season, went 4-for-27 with two RBIs. “During this series, I saw the things I need to do and there are a lot of them,” Matsui said. Nah, Hideki, you’re fine. In fact, we think you’re ready for arbitration.
BALL GAMES: A judge will rule Dec. 18 in the case to determine the owner of Barry Bonds’ 73rd home run ball. For now, Alex Popov and Patrick Hayashi have supervised visitation rights
Check your office pool sheets. It’s Montreal against Edmonton in the Canadian Football League championship Grey Cup in . . . Edmonton. The CFL would play their title game in a warmer climate if the country had one.
THE KOBEAIRES: The Shaqless Lakers are 3-7. The Bulls are 4-6. Doesn’t leave much room for the “Kobe is the real MVP” argument, does it?
AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR SPONSORS: DUCK! Enforcer Bob Probert has joined the Blackhawks radio broadcasting team. Expect Detroit to counter by signing Stu Grimson to the booth.
We are family: Los Angeles Kings coach Andy Murray got a phone call from his Aunt Bernice before a recent game against Edmonton asking for more ice time for Kings rookie Michael Cammalleri, a player she has in her hockey pool. Cammalleri broke a tie score with his first NHL goal as the Kings beat the Oilers 4-1. Aunt Bernice, what do you know about college QB prospects?
CORRUPTING THE YOUTH: The spotlight of sports shines brighter on younger athletes every day. That’s why you won’t hear us talking about high school phenom LeBron James tearing a rim away from a backboard on a dunk. That’s absolutely ridiculous.
AND FINALLY: Arsenal, coming off a 3-0 win over Tottenham, is at the top of the Premier League following a 0-0 draw with Liverpool. We don’t care, but we thought some of you might be interested.
REDEYE TRANSLATOR: They say it there, it comes out here
“Well, I’ve never been through a season like this with all the circumstances that have faced this team, so I guess the answer is no, I haven’t been through anything like this.”
— Dick Jauron
Bears coach, on whether he’s ever been through a season like
the one the Bears are experiencing, either as a player or as a coach
Translation: “Why don’t they just put me out of my misery and fire me now?”
