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The sports world had a week to remember - for all the wrong reasons
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By Tom Loeffler
sports@newstribune.com
Let's take a look at the week in review in the world of sports.
And one look ahead. The city of Indianapolis is glowing a bit brighter this weekend, as some very special guests are in town. It's the ever-enchanting dB - de Brickyard 400. Gentlemen, start your engines. Does the winner drink milk like their Indy Car brethren? Or perhaps a fine wine?
Only beer-saturated NASCAR fans know for sure.
But I digress.
Back to the week that was ...
First, in this corner, we have Fido. In the other corner, we have Fluffy. Fluffy is favored in this brawl-for-it-all and is one win away from the 755th of his career, tying the all-time record.
But Fluffy has been suspected of eating juiced dog biscuits. Take a look at a picture of Fluffy from a few years ago, and Fluffy sure has changed. From a thin, little Fluffy to a big, muscular Fluffy. Is it really a record if you cheat?
Bad dog.
But then there's this: Sports commentator Jim Rome has said: “If you're not cheating, you're not trying ... and it's only cheating if you get caught.”
Right on, Rome. You've captured the essence of sports.
The Master of Ceremonies, the quarterback of the show, barks out the signal - let the games begin.
The official takes his position. We notice as soon as the skirmish starts that the official seems to be favoring Fido. Every call is going Fido's way. The ref gives Fluffy a technical foul after he licks Fido.
This guy is a flat embarrassment. This just isn't right. Let's go outside.
Lo and behold, a bunch of bicyclists are flying by. It's a race! One flies head over heels after running over a dog. Probably Fluffy's next opponent.
The race stops for a while and we have a leader. But he's caught cheating and thrown out.
The race resumes. After racing a bit longer, we have a new leader. But he's caught lying and thrown out.
Enough. Let's go back inside and check on the pooches. Dogs tell no lies.
Fluffy still can't catch a break. Stupid ref. Fido and the Zebra might deny him the record ... this time. But it's only a matter of time.
Ah, the world of sports. A getaway from reality, where fun and games have turned into FBI investigations and scandal.
Michael Vick. Dogfighting. Barry Bonds. BALCO. Tim Donaghy. A crooked NBA ref. Guys we've never heard of. A crooked Tour de France.
The week in review.
That's not to mention what happened in Iraq, after that's country's soccer team defeated South Korea in the Asian Cup on Wednesday. Jubilant Iraqis were celebrating in the streets of Baghdad, until car bombs killed at least 50 fans.
And that's not to mention the untimely death of Wake Forest basketball coach Skip Prosser at age 56. Unfortunately, untimely deaths are a part of life.
It's been a week to remember for all the wrong reasons.
One positive - very positive - occurrence this week was supplied by a local athlete who's becoming, perhaps, the most dominant local athlete since Justin Smith.
Jefferson City's Connor McHenry became the first golfer in state history to win both the Missouri Amateur and the Missouri Stroke Play championships. He won the former in June; he won the latter on Thursday. This guy is good, really good ... and he's only 19.
So what the Missouri Stroke Play Tournament was played in Overland Park, Kansas. As foolish as that sounds, it makes more sense than anything else that happened this week.
Here's hoping for a better week ahead.
And one look ahead. The city of Indianapolis is glowing a bit brighter this weekend, as some very special guests are in town. It's the ever-enchanting dB - de Brickyard 400. Gentlemen, start your engines. Does the winner drink milk like their Indy Car brethren? Or perhaps a fine wine?
Only beer-saturated NASCAR fans know for sure.
But I digress.
Back to the week that was ...
First, in this corner, we have Fido. In the other corner, we have Fluffy. Fluffy is favored in this brawl-for-it-all and is one win away from the 755th of his career, tying the all-time record.
But Fluffy has been suspected of eating juiced dog biscuits. Take a look at a picture of Fluffy from a few years ago, and Fluffy sure has changed. From a thin, little Fluffy to a big, muscular Fluffy. Is it really a record if you cheat?
Bad dog.
But then there's this: Sports commentator Jim Rome has said: “If you're not cheating, you're not trying ... and it's only cheating if you get caught.”
Right on, Rome. You've captured the essence of sports.
The Master of Ceremonies, the quarterback of the show, barks out the signal - let the games begin.
The official takes his position. We notice as soon as the skirmish starts that the official seems to be favoring Fido. Every call is going Fido's way. The ref gives Fluffy a technical foul after he licks Fido.
This guy is a flat embarrassment. This just isn't right. Let's go outside.
Lo and behold, a bunch of bicyclists are flying by. It's a race! One flies head over heels after running over a dog. Probably Fluffy's next opponent.
The race stops for a while and we have a leader. But he's caught cheating and thrown out.
The race resumes. After racing a bit longer, we have a new leader. But he's caught lying and thrown out.
Enough. Let's go back inside and check on the pooches. Dogs tell no lies.
Fluffy still can't catch a break. Stupid ref. Fido and the Zebra might deny him the record ... this time. But it's only a matter of time.
Ah, the world of sports. A getaway from reality, where fun and games have turned into FBI investigations and scandal.
Michael Vick. Dogfighting. Barry Bonds. BALCO. Tim Donaghy. A crooked NBA ref. Guys we've never heard of. A crooked Tour de France.
The week in review.
That's not to mention what happened in Iraq, after that's country's soccer team defeated South Korea in the Asian Cup on Wednesday. Jubilant Iraqis were celebrating in the streets of Baghdad, until car bombs killed at least 50 fans.
And that's not to mention the untimely death of Wake Forest basketball coach Skip Prosser at age 56. Unfortunately, untimely deaths are a part of life.
It's been a week to remember for all the wrong reasons.
One positive - very positive - occurrence this week was supplied by a local athlete who's becoming, perhaps, the most dominant local athlete since Justin Smith.
Jefferson City's Connor McHenry became the first golfer in state history to win both the Missouri Amateur and the Missouri Stroke Play championships. He won the former in June; he won the latter on Thursday. This guy is good, really good ... and he's only 19.
So what the Missouri Stroke Play Tournament was played in Overland Park, Kansas. As foolish as that sounds, it makes more sense than anything else that happened this week.
Here's hoping for a better week ahead.
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