Second thoughts

Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron brought 30 pairs of shoes to the BCS Championship Game, just to make sure he has a pair of shoes that matches whatever clothes he’s wearing.
Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron brought 30 pairs of shoes to the BCS Championship Game, just to make sure he has a pair of shoes that matches whatever clothes he’s wearing.

— Tide QB has own shoe deal

It’s all about making the right call at the right time when you are a quarterback.

No one understands that better than Alabama’s AJ McCarron.

That’s why McCarron brought approximately 30 pairs of shoes with him to Miami, where the Crimson Tide will take on top ranked Notre Dame tonight in the BCS Championship Game.

“Back at home, I’ve got a bunch of shoes. I’ve got at least 130 pair,” McCarron told The Associated Press. “I brought like 30 here. At nighttime, I never know what I’m going to wear so I change and try to match.

“I’ve got a bunch of bow ties too. I don’t even know. My mom does that whole thing.”

McCarron said he usually wears a suit - bow tie and all - to games, but not all of his teammates share his fashion sense.

Tailback Eddie Lacy said he brought one pair of shoes with him, a pair of red and white sneakers.

“That’s all I need,” he said. “I’ve only got two feet. I don’t know what’s up with him and his shoe fetish.”

Brainiacs for $100

Brad Dickson of The World-Herald in Omaha, Neb., was glad to see Northwestern win its first bowl game in 64 years and Stanford win its first Rose Bowl in 41 years.

“I think it’s just nice to see students from Stanford and Northwestern excelling outside of college week on Jeopardy!” he wrote.

On the bright side

Seven NFL coaches were fired Monday, the day after the regular season ended.

“A lot of men have lost their million-dollar salaries,” comedian Argus Hamilton noted, “but the owners broke the news to the coaches by saying you’re not losing a job, you’re gaining a tax break.”

Better late than never

Lance Armstrong is considering coming clean and admitting that he used performance-enhancing drugs during his cycling career.

“Might as well, Lance,” wrote Greg Cote of The Miami Herald.

“It’s not like anybody still believes you, anyway.”

Saban a safe bet

Nick Saban is all about control, and it doesn’t matter whether he’s on the football field or the basketball court.

It seems Saban, all 5-8 of him, is quite the pickup basketball player.

Then again, that’s not all that difficult when you control everything about the game.

The Alabama football coach revealed during BCS Championship media day festivities that he and his staff like to play pickup basketball games during their down time in the off season.

Of course, just like when it comes to football, Saban is in complete control.

“I’m the commissioner of the league,” Saban told media members Saturday. “It’s a noontime basketball league, NBA.

I pick the teams, so I have the best players on my team. I also pick the guy that can guard me, and there’s only two guys in the whole organization who are shorter and slower that I would pick to guard me. And then I call the fouls.”

Quote of the day

“There were two things I thought you couldn’t screw up - Coca-Cola and the Kentucky Derby, And now we just have Coca-Cola.” Hall of Fame thoroughbred trainer D. Wayne Lukas

Sports, Pages 14 on 01/07/2013

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