LITTLE ROCK — Rodman an ambassador for the U.S.?
With relations tense between the United States and North Korea because of an underground nuclear test and missile activity, VICE media company decided to send in a goodwill ambassador.
It’s choice? Flamboyant former NBA star Dennis Rodman, who began his visit to the country Tuesday with three members of the Harlem Globetrotters.
“Is sending the Harlem Globetrotters and Dennis Rodman to the DPRK [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] strange? In a word, yes,” said Shane Smith, the founder of VICE, based in Brooklyn, N.Y.
“But finding common ground on the basketball court is a beautiful thing.”
Smith might be right about the North Koreans being able to find “common ground” with Americans through the often over-the-top Rodman.
Shown a photo of a snarlingRodman, piercings dangling from his lower lip and two massive tattoos emblazoned on his chest,one North Korean in Pyongyang recoiled and said, “He looks like a monster !”Giving a hoot
Greg Cote of the Miami Herald thinks he’s figured out what Sun Belt Conference member Florida Atlantic’s football stadium will be called now that the Owls have sold naming rights to GEO Group, which operates prisons.
“Even odds on the place being nicknamed Owlcatraz,” Cote writes.
Meeting match
Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy took their balls and went home ... to Woods’ home course, that is.
After both were eliminated in the first round of the Match Play Championship in Marana, Ariz.
on Thursday, the No. 1 and No. 2 players in the world squared off for two rounds Sunday morning at The Medalist in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
“We thought we’d play our own Match Play final,” McIlroy said Tuesday at the Honda Classic.
So who won?
McIlroy said Woods won the first round, and McIlroy beat himthe second round. But he seemed to be more pleased by the pace of play.
They teed off at 8 a.m. and McIlroy said he was home by 1:30 p.m.
“He putts with the pin in,” McIlroy said. “It’s speed golf. It was good. It was really enjoyable.” Overextended
Former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal has somewhat fond memories of late Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss.
“He gave me everything I wanted,” O’Neal told the audience at Buss’ funeral service last week.
“I wanted one extension; he gave it to me.
“I wanted a second extension;
he gave it to me.
“I wanted a third extension - he traded me.” Suspending criticism
“According to a poll, 61 percent of NFL players disapprove of Commissioner Roger Goodell,” writes Brad Dickson of The Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald. “Goodell responded by announcing he is fining all 61 percent for ‘something or other.’ ”Quote of the day
“He can put the ball in
the hole. He can shoot the basketball, and he knows how to get the
shot. That’s going to be critical for us because he’s a guy that can extend the floor.” Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson on freshman guard Anthlon Bell
Sports, Pages 23 on 02/27/2013