Field Level Interesting Statline

Here are a few stats that will have you scratching your head...
Career batting statistics of two Hall of Famers who wore the St. Louis Cardinals uniform.

Shortstop: Ozzie Smith - 9,396 ABs 28 Home Runs
Pitcher: Bob Gibson - 1,328 ABs 24 Home Runs

Postseason
Ozzie Smith - 144 ABs 1 Home Run
Bob Gibson - 28 ABs 2 Home Runs

Quote of the Day

"The players have been dressing in prison garb the last five or six years. All the stuff that goes on, it's like gangster, thuggery stuff. It's time. It's been time to do that."

Lakers head coach Phil Jackson, quoted today in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune

Poked or Punched - Danica Needs Lessons on Racing

Sports never has a dull moment does it? I just heard about the ‘incident’ between race car drivers Danica Patrick and Jaques Lazier after the two wrecked on the 184th lap of the 200-lap Toyota Indy 400. Danica and her rookie season ended in a big crash with Lazier that brought on some words and either a punch or finger poke.

After the crash the two drivers were in a rescue vehicle when emotions ran a bit high. At first, Lazier said that the female driver punched him in the head. A bit later he toned it back and said that Danica poked him in the forehead.

When asked what happened Lazier said, "If she said she hit me on the temple with her fingers, that's fine. My son hits harder than she does." Lazier has a four-year old son.

At which point Danica Patrick made the intelligent response through her spokesman of, "So you're telling me that Jaques is saying he got beat up by a girl?"

Just terrible. If Danica Patrick wants to have continued success in racing she better be careful not to put her hands (or fingers) on other drivers. She should also fire her spokesman, because it's their job to keep her out of a mess like that. What would the response have been if Lazier would’ve done it to her? Not good. They would’ve called him every name in the book and that’s not fair.

Hey, I’m all for equality and think it’s great that she’s been successful but she needs to understand that what she did and what she said later was wrong. I know in the heat of the moment things are said and done that you might like to take back. Her follow-up response should have read something like this:
‘In the heat of the moment my frustrations were high and Jaques Lazier and I exchanged words. I regret the situation ever happened and hope that he can accept my apologies for any ill feelings that I may have given him.’

That would suffice Danica…don’t call the guy out about being beaten up by a girl…nonsense.

Trojans beat Fighting Irish in a Classic

Quarterback Matt Leinart beats Notre Dame in the final seconds.

USC defeated Notre Dame yesterday in the most dramatic and exciting college football game I’ve ever watched. Led by their two studs, Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush, Southern California showed that they could come back when on the ropes and beat a good football team.

First year head coach Charlie Weis had Pro Football Hall of Famer and Notre Dame alumnus Joe Montana attend Friday night's pep rally, and it seemed to have been a great idea. Weis also had his team wear their good-luck green uniforms on Saturday too. Both ideas came just seconds away from working.

Leinart dove and then spun into the end zone with just a few seconds left to give the Number 1 team in the country its 28th straight win, 34-31 over a gritty and determined Number 9 Notre Dame. But before that spectacular ending there was more. After Leinart led the Trojans down the field leading to another Reggie Bush touchdown run the Fighting Irish, led by quarterback Brady Quinn, marched down the field to retake the lead 31-28 with just 2:02 remaining. The Trojans looked like they had lost but on 4th down and 9 Leinart hit Dwayne Jarrett in stride for a 61-yard pass play. Then on 2nd down inside the 5 yard line Leinart scrambled and dove toward the end zone. Several Notre Dame defenders stopped last years Heisman Trophy winner short of the goal line and the ball was actually fumbled out of bounds.

The next thirty seconds were strange. The game clock showed zeroes and many of Notre Dame's fans rushed onto the field to start their celebration. But seven seconds were left in the game and the ball was placed a foot and a half from the goal line. Looking like USC would play it safe and down or spike the ball to kick a field goal, many were shocked when Leinart went with the quarterback sneak. Twisting and falling into the end zone USC had pulled off an incredible come-from-behind win.

Leinart wasn’t the only player who played big in the big game. Bush was amazing. The super sophomore ran for 160 yards on 15 carries with three touchdowns for the two-time defending champions. He’s one of the best college running backs that I can remember watching. Irish quarterback Brady Quinn also had a great game, finishing with 264 yards passing on 19-for-35 and he used his legs to scramble and open up the Trojan defense. USC’s high-powered offense came into the game averaging 51 points a contest, but Notre Dame’s defense pressured Leinart all day and intercepted him twice.

Southern Cal head coach Pete Carroll said that yesterday’s game was the best game in this great run for his team. I couldn’t agree more. It was the best college football game I’ve ever watched.