1. Fall colors
Ron Zook’s a possible candidate for the Illinois job. Makes sense. He can keep his neon orange wardrobe.
2. Oh goody
ESPN is launching its own branded wireless phone service next year because 1) America needs another wireless phone service and 2) there’s a huge clamoring for a “Boo-yah!” ringtone.
3. Joy and pain
I cheered the news that NBA analyst Bill Walton was getting launched into space on a musical satellite. Then someone corrected me and said Walton’s getting his own music show on Sirius Satellite Radio.
4. Eerie similarities
Indiana and Illinois both fired their football coaches, Indiana and Illinois both play in a Memorial Stadium, and neither
Indiana nor Illinois is–or ever was–a Canadian province.
5. Ice cold
Tough, tough week for football coaches, both pro and college. It could be worse; we could be following NHL hockey.
6. Art imitates life
The Field Museum is selling a painting called “Chief Blackhawk” and the smart money is on the portrait landing in Philly and winning a Stanley Cup with the Flyers.
7. End of an error
I missed it. Before Notre Dame fired Ty Willingham, the Irish program wasn’t like all the other big-time football schools? Is that what we’re saying? Riiiiight.
8. Shhhhhhhh!
OK, who went and blabbed to the Mets about Sosa’s skipping out, his creaky back and his crappy batting average at Shea? Those were supposed to be secrets.
9. Urban legend
Notre Dame football players voted to play in the Insight Bowl. Also, they voted for automatic “A” grades for all students whose coaches were fired that semester.
FIVE THINGS…
About my Heisman choice Matt Leinart:
– He went to HS with the girl Jesse Palmer chose on “The Bachelor.”
– He once dated pro surfer/model Veronica Kay.
– The lefty has played catch with Snoop Dogg and Will Ferrell.
– At 8, he became a Notre Dame fan after seeing “Rudy.”
– He trails Chad Hutchinson in NFL career wins, 2-0.
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Edited by the sports staff of RedEye
