Here's your morning links, double-double:
MLSE's road trip from hell continued, the hockey side brain-cramping in Minnesota and the hoops hands sleepwalking in Portland.
Former Raptor turned Knick Antonio Davis went into the stands in Chicago last night during overtime against the Bulls. He was ejected, later explaining in a statement that his wife was being bothered by a drunken fan.
More on the flag flap: Catriona LeMay Doan tells The Don to shaddup, while curler Russ Howard is ready to hurry hard for the honour.
The Bills are closing in on Dick Jauron, Saints hire Payton, Lions hire -- Marinelli? And whatever happened to the NFL's push for hiring minority coaches, anyway?
CNNSI's John Donovan releases his Hot Stove League marks -- J.P. Ricciardi and the Jays get an A: "These moves could -- no, they should -- put the Jays into wild-card territory, at least." Yes, that could -- no, it would -- be the intent, I'm guessing.
Regular visitors know we're quite high on the U of T Blues' chances to do something big this year. In this week's national men's hoops rankings, they've cracked the top 10 for the first time since 1997.
Not sure why a 20th anniversary retrospective on Cal's run through the Stanford marching band is all that relevant with the 25th anniversary next year, but if Kottke links to it that's good enough for me. Besides, it's a pretty cool read, and it gives me a chance to link to Stanford's mascot, the Dancing Tree, who is probably the only Cardinal figure who didn't figure in the play.
Today's best bet: Buffalo at Vancouver. Sabres play the second of a six-game road trip and they are on the warpath, ooh-ahh, while Canucks have won five of last six.
Yesterday's best bet: A damp squib, as they say across the pond, as Manchester United hammers Burton Albion 5-0. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted. 1 1/2 stars -- one for showing up, the half for the 10,500 Brewers fans at Old Trafford. But no more. They didn't even manage a shot on goal, for pete's sake.
Le May Doan sure changed her tune from one day to the next... This is from the Jan. 18th Star:
[QUOTE]
After carrying the flag in the opening ceremonies in Salt Lake City four years ago, Le May Doan won a gold medal on the ice. She says she never bought into the so-called "flag-bearer's jinx."
"I almost loved that people then talked about the jinx because I never believed in it," she said. "So I wanted to prove that it was wrong. And I did."
[/QUOTE]
... and this is from today's:
[QUOTE]
Le May Doan said the timing worked out for her in Salt Lake because she had nearly a week after the opening ceremonies before she skated — Scott, Hughes and Klassen compete two days after the ceremonies in Turin in races where they have strong shots at medals.
"Marching in the opening ceremonies is exhausting, it takes so much out of you," she said. "These athletes train their whole lives — 11 months a year, six days a week — so one day they can represent their country. Why else would they do it? They don't do it for money, for recognition. Any athlete saying, `No' is doing it because they want to be at their best for their country. We should be saying, `Thank you' to them for not jeopardizing that."
[/QUOTE]
So first she says it's just a silly "jinx". Then she says it's a real hazard to the athlete. Which is it, Catriona?
Posted by: Carla | January 19, 2006 at 11:32 AM