LITTLE ROCK — Viking QB appreciates nice catch
Christian Ponder’s development as an NFL quarterback hasn’t moved along as quickly as Minnesota Vikings fans would like, but it appears he’s progressing nicely in the romance department.
Roughly six weeks after Ponder confirmed he had been dating ESPN sideline reporter Samantha Steele for a couple of months, Steele told Sports Illustrated’s Richard Deitsch on Tuesday that the two are engaged.
Ponder, in his second season with the Vikings after being the No. 12 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, hasn’t shied from talking about the high-profile pairing since it became public.
“I’m proud of the relationship,” he said the first time reporters asked him about it. “I have bragging rights.”
After the Vikings beat theDetroit Lions on Nov. 11, Ponder shrugged off criticism from fans that his new relationship might be the reason for his flagging play.
“I want to thank my girlfriend,” he joked after completing 24 of 32 passes in a 34-24 victory, “becauseobviously she has a big impact on how I play.”
Of course, Ponder has had two wretched games since, completing only 34 of 68 passes with 2 touchdowns and 3 interceptions in back-to-back losses that have dropped the Vikings to 6-6 and on the edge of the playoff race.
Quiet, please
Keegan Bradley’s comments about a fan who called him a cheater for using a belly putter gave GraemeMcDowell a platform to speak out against another kind of noise from the gallery that has gone on too long.
“You da man!” has given way to “Get in the hole!” to “Mashed potatoes.”
“I’m kind of fed up with all this ‘mashed potatoes’ and all this rubbish that the crowd are kind of enjoying shouting right now,” McDowell said. “Keegan had a guy out there ... after every shot he was ‘Yabba dabba doing’ and it was just stupid.
“It’s something for the players. It’s not a lot of fun, and it’s kind of becoming a little bit of a cool thing to do for the spectators. It gives them their two or three seconds of fame, but it gets a little frustrating for everyone.” Cliche master
Los Angeles Lakers guardKobe Bryant said teammate Pau Gasol must put on his “big-boy pants” and adjust to a new style of playing under Coach Mike D’Antoni.
“You know Kobe,” wrote Reggie Hayes of the News-Sentinel in Fort Wayne,Ind. “He always delivers his foolproof team chemistry-building metaphors one leg at a time.” Consolation prize
Comedy writer Alan Ray, on the windfall from the Notre Dame-Alabama football title game: “Each school will receive $2 million. The players will get a commemorative tote bag.”Quote of the day “This is a homecoming for me, and I look forward to being reunited with the Auburn family.” Gus Malzahn on returning to Auburn as the head coach
Sports, Pages 20 on 12/05/2012