As a rule, Serena call comes as a surprise
Serena Williams apologized Monday for what she called an “inappropriate outburst” during her semifinal loss to Kim Clijsters at the U.S. Open. Williams lost her temper Saturday night after a lineswoman called a foot fault, resulting in a double fault. Clijsters eventually won the women’s title.
The foot-fault penalty was the correct call, albeit one not normally called in that situation — a Grand Slam semifinal. That got us thinking: What other calls by officials are most surprising only when they are made correctly?
In baseball, the “neighborhood” agreement among many umpires has given phantom touches at second base the benefit of the doubt on double plays. Call it now and watch the look on players’ faces.
In football, the “tuck” rule came to public consciousness when the Patriots beat the Raiders in the AFC championship game, though it had been on the books for some time.
In hockey, officials almost never call penalties in playoff overtime, especially in Game 7. And in basketball, the next player called for carrying the ball might need to be carried off the court.
— Tribune
Russell not taking MJ’s latest shot in stride
Michael Jordan spent a Hall of Fame speech calling people out. Now one of those people is calling him out in return.
“I’ll play his ass right now,” former Jazz player Bryon Russell told Yahoo! Sports. “This is a call-out for him to come play me. He can come out here in his private jet and come play. He’s got millions of dollars. He can pay for the jet. He can meet me at the Recreation Center in Calabasas (Calif.).”
Russell, who was guarding Jordan on the winning shot in Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals, merited a special mention during Jordan’s speech.
Russell told Yahoo! Sports that Jordan’s story was accurate and that he was honored to be mentioned. He said MJ can get his phone number from a mutual friend if he’s up for a game.
“I keep my basketball shorts on,” he cautioned Jordan.
Cost to Crabtree isn’t Singletary’s concern
The San Francisco 49ers are considering modifying their contract offer to wide receiver Michael Crabtree, but it’s not the kind of adjustment the first-round draft pick and his agent were hoping for.
Instead of a contract that exceeds No. 7 pick Darrius Heyward-Bey’s deal — which is what Crabtree and agent Eugene Parker have been shooting for — the new deal would subtract money for every game he misses. Crabtree already has forfeited one game check, but that amount pales in comparison to the guaranteed money — believed to be around $16 million — the 49ers initially offered. Presumably, it’s that total that would take a hit.
Coach Mike Singletary on Monday acknowledged that the 49ers were contemplating such a move. But he said he wasn’t sure if Crabtree has been notified.
“I don’t know if the letter’s actually been sent,” Singletary said. “I know we talked about it. But at this point, the whole Michael Crabtree thing, you know what I’m going to say: It’s over there. I’m going to focus over here.”
Sacramento Bee
