LITTLE ROCK — OK, so it’s not exactly like home
Southern California may really enjoy being in El Paso, Texas, for Monday’s Sun Bowl game against Georgia Tech, but it’s been hard to tell that from the Trojans’ stunts.
Last month, a USC defensive player was forced to apologize for a less than flattering remark about El Paso that he posted on his Twitter page. Another player, Leonard Williams, issued another apology Thursday for a similar remark he tweeted.
Williams, a freshman defensive end, tweeted Wednesday: “Out here in El Paso. S* city but glad I can enjoy this moment wit the USC family.”
That came a day after USC stood up a bowl function that was organized to be a joint dinner with Georgia Tech Coach Paul Johnson and players. USC showed up late - the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported USC was as much as 90 minutes tardy - andJohnson took his players home after waiting around for the other guests to arrive.
The late arrival was blamed ona late practice, and Coach Lane Kiffin told reporters Thursday he didn’t know USC was supposed to show up at the same time as Georgia Tech.
As for Williams’ knock on El Paso?
Kiffin issued an apology, but won’t discipline the defensive end.
“I also think you need to be careful with peoples’ rights,” he told reporters Thursday.
So at least we know that Kiffin cares about free speech, even if he isn’t too concerned with tact.
Among the worst
The sports website Yardbarker.
com compiled a list of the 10 worst sports moment of 2012, and former Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino’s motorcycle accident was near the top.
Petrino’s wreck, which kickstarted events that led to his April 10 firing by Athletic Director Jeff Long, was ranked No. 3 by the website, which wrote that Petrino made “himself into a national punchline and reminding everyone not to use a company phone (especially if working for a state school) when trying to keep an interoffice affair hidden from your wife and boss.”
Lance Armstrong’s doping scandal was No. 2, and a touchdown credited to Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Golden Tate against the Green Bay Packers - while replays showed defensive back M.D. Jennings (Arkansas State) had possession - was ranked No. 1.
Killing time
Montreal Canadiens defenseman Josh Gorges has had some downtime, considering the NHL’s ongoing lockout has prevented the start of the season.
So Wednesday he went to Twitter to invite his 23,000-plus fans to an outdoor rink in Montreal for a leisurely skate and informal game. Reports indicated dozens showed up of varying ages to kill time at the outdoor rink.
“I haven’t played outdoors in a long time, but I figured we’ve got some time and I’ve got nothing else to do,” Gorges told reporters.
“I was just looking to skate outdoors and I threw it out there on Twitter and so many people were asking where I’d go play. So I thought, ‘Why not set a time and place and we’ll all come and play?’ ”
You hope Gorges enjoyed it. It might be his last skate for a while.Quote of the day “Maybe some other people are surprised, but
I already knew that I could pass it.” Arkansas guard BJ Young, who is averaging 4.1 assists a game this season
Sports, Pages 16 on 12/28/2012