Awkward, really, really awkward
Diana Taurasi of the Phoenix Mercury and Seimone Augustus of the Minnesota Lynx go back nearly 20 years to their AAU days.
It was still a little odd to see Taurasi kiss Augustus in the middle of a WNBA playoff game Thursday night.
With the Lynx running away with Game 1 of the Western Conference final, Taurasi bumped Augustus in the fourth quarter. As Augustus stood her ground, things got a little strange. Before the referee could separate the two, Taurasi gave Augustus a quick peck on her right cheek.
Each player was assessed a personal foul during the short, intimate moment, and Minnesota went on to win 85-62.
When questioned about the incident, Taurasi sarcastically said, “We were just trying to make sweet love.” Augustus fired back, “The tango dance that we had, I always say she just wanted some of my deliciousness.”
Hmmmmm, OK then.
Painful souvenir
A Kansas City Royals mascot’s hot dog hurling incident is proving to be more of a pain for one man who claims a 4 ½ -ounce flying wiener hit him in the face, causing him to suffer a detached retina.
Sluggerrr the Mascot allegedly threw the hot dog as part of promotion at a Royals game in 2009. Unfortunately, the flying dog reportedly hit fan John Coomer in the face, and soon after Coomer sued the team. Four years later, the case has made its way to the Missouri Supreme Court, which will determine whether Sluggerrr was negligent in his throw.
According to OzarksFirst.com, “The incident was reported in 2009; a jury ruled against Coomer in 2011, saying Coomer assumed the risk of a hot-dog-related injury when he bought his ticket to the game.”
As a result, he ended up with a detached retina and not a souvenir baseball.
Perseverance
The next time a player doesn’t play to the whistle, he can be shown a video of Tanner Dominick as a powerful shaming tool.
Dominick plays for the eighth grade football team at Holy Trinity Catholic Middle School of Charlotte, N.C. Something appeared to be bothering his stomach during Holy Trinity’s recent game against against Marvin Ridge Middle School of Waxhaw, N.C.
Dominick, playing linebacker, can be seen throwing up right before a snap as Marvin Ridge appeared ready to score. As a running play went to the right, Dominick again threw up. Marvin Ridge lateraled the ball and reversed field to the left. The Marvin Ridge back had a clear path to the end zone but was stopped short by Dominick of all players.
They said it
Bud Geracie of the San Jose Mercury News, via Twitter, on the sewer lines at O.co Coliseum in Oakland repeatedly backing up: “New tradition taking hold at A’s ballpark: The seventh-inning stench.”
Bee-squad games
Sunday’s game between the Los Angeles Angels and Seattle Mariners was twice delayed by a swarm of bees in right field, three months after a similar swarm in Kansas City took up residence in Los Angeles’ dugout.
Coincidence? Some 21 of the 33 players on the Angels’ roster in September played Class AAA ball for the Salt Lake City Bees.
Quote of the day
“I like confident people, and Johnny Manziel is a very confident person.” Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema
Sports, Pages 20 on 09/28/2013