Second thoughts

— Ishikawa gets Woods treatment

Some golfers have great relationships with their national media. Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa is “treated like a rock star” by the Japanese media, writes The Associated Press’ Doug Ferguson.

“When he signs his card, even when it’s late in the day, it’s not unusual for the 21-year-old to spend close to an hour fulfilling his media obligations.

“That’s where ‘The Chair’ comes in.

“His handlers have a white folding chair for Ishikawa as he endures two interviews with different television stations. A dozen or so reporters form a semicircle around him as they wait and listen, occasionally jotting down notes. Then, it’s their turn. They spent close to 15 minutes with Ishikawa after his round at Innisbrook, going over the clubs he used and shots he hit on just about every hole - this after a 73 that left him 12 shots outof the lead.

“Finally, he was finished. He got up from the chair and walked around the clubhouse toward the parking lot. The Japanese reporters followed him, walking in a group about 20 yards behind. One of them was asked where they were going.

“ ‘Now we wave goodbye,’ the reporter explained.

“Indeed, they stood on a sidewalk and waved as Ishikawa’s car drove by them.”No fighting Irish

Another golfer who appears to get along with his national media is three-time major champion Padraig Harrington, who’s Irish.

“He was giving an interview to Greg Allen of Irish radio station RTE, and after they finished, Harrington began making small talk,” Doug Ferguson writes. “He asked Allen, ‘I heard you lost your sunglasses?’ Allen’s shoulders slumped as he told Harrington he had misplaced his glasses and didn’t know where to look for them.

“Harrington didn’t commiserate. He smiled.

“ ‘They’re in my locker,’ he said. ‘You left them behind the other day.’ ” Proud to be loud

Why are Seattle Seahawks fans so loud at CenturyLink Field?

Some of it might be the stadium itself. It is U-shaped and designed to bounce back sound.

Others like Sunday NightFootball producer Fred Gaudelli and announcer Al Michaels have less scientific explanations.

Gaudelli blames coffee.

Michaels says primetime matchups like Sunday’s against San Francisco give Seattleites a chance to let the rest of the country know they are still there.

“For media people on the East Coast,” he said, “Seattle might as well be Bulgaria.” End games

Brad Dickson of the Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald writes that Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany had reason to be upset that the world did not end Friday:

“Now Big Ten football teams have to play their bowl games.” Cowboys boot

South Korean golfer Sung Kang has been learning English in Dallas while working with swing coach Hank Haney since 2003, but apparently he still needs more work on the language than on his swing.

When asked if he had ever bought cowboy boots while in Dallas, Kang said, “No. I don’t really like the NFL. I’m more of a Lakers fan.”Quote of the day

“It comes down to, do I

want to try and squeeze

out a couple more years

and see where my career takes me? Or end up

being 40 and crippled?” Former Arkansas All-America center Jonathan Luigs on ending his NFL career in 2010 after having surgery on both hips

Sports, Pages 16 on 12/26/2012

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