Left Coast Sports Babe

Vice president Dick Cheney said that “no one saw the financial crisis coming.” 

Is he kidding?  Plenty of people saw the financial crisis coming.  Now, the Arizona Cardinals against the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL title game?   No one saw THAT coming.

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With the Pittsburgh Steelers being the only home team to win this weekend, will the headline on the playoff story read “Kings of the Road?”

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So Tim Tebow, who has already won a Heisman and a national championship,  will nonetheless bypass the NFL draft and return for his senior year.    College football fans were shocked, not only is Tebow still putting the college experience over quick millions, he didn’t even announce his decision by talking about himself in the third person. 

Though a more cynical read might be that he was scared about being drafted by the Detroit Lions.

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President Bush said on Fox News Sunday that he didn’t bail out the Republican party by leaving Iraq.   Republicans now just hope that it’s not too late to bail out the party by him leaving the White House.

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President Bush apparently doesn’t spend a lot of time watching serious movies.  When someone asked him what he thought of the Golden Globe winner “Slumdog Millionaire” he responded, “Well, it seems to be a good year for movies about cute dogs and puppies.”

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Or

President Bush just isn’t that up on current movies…when he was asked what he thought of the movie “Slumdog Millionaire,” he said he hoped to see it after he leaves the White House, and figured it would be a great sequel to “Beverly Hills Chihuahua.”

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England’s Prince Harry found himself having to apologize again after making some stupid racist comments.   Well,  it does go to show that these days the United States is not the only country in the world embarrassed by the youngest son of a dynasty. 

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Last week a man with sixteen guns as he drove to Los Angeles International Airport.  In his defense, Plaxico Burris said he just was flying home after a weekend of  clubbing.

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Los Angeles police were shocked when they stopped a man with sixteen guns and ammunition trying to enter the airport.  Normally Angelinos only take that kind of arsenal on the freeway.

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And Stanford football coach Jim Harbaugh, still with an unsigned but negotiated contract extension, is rumored to be considering an NFL position.

Harbaugh is responding to the rumors with evasions, vague answers, and basically not saying anything of substance. Yeah, maybe he is ready to be an NFL coach.

In the latest episode of the Senate soap opera… today it looks like Roland Burris will finally be allowed to take over Barack Obama’s seat.

And not that it excuses Blagojevich, but the 71 year old Burris does appear to be an honest,  reasonable and competent man.

Which gives me an actual chance to quote T.S. Eliot, who might well have been writing about the Illinois Governor when he wrote – 

 “The last temptation is the greatest treason, to do the right deed for the wrong reason.”

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One reason we know that Blagojevich wouldn’t have tried to sell the seat to Burris.  He would have had to offer him a senior discount.

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A Washington hotel is offering a Lincoln bicentennial package that offers guests a chance to sleep in a “Lincoln” bedroom,  including historic memorabilia and a replica of the President’s rocking chair.  The room has been designed to be as accurate as possible, with special help from the first-hand remembrances of John McCain.

George W. Bush said to Barack Obama after their “five presidents” lunch that “we all want you to succeed.”  And of course, for President Bush’s part, he has done his best to set the bar as low as possible.

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All those thousands of shoes dumped on a Miami highway have been shipped to the poverty and conflict ravaged nation of Haiti. President Bush has questioned the shipment. With all those potential insurgents, he thinks its a bad idea to arm them.

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The best of times, worst of times – early 2009 version.   Earlier this week in college basketball the Boston College Eagles knocked off the previously unbeaten and number-one ranked North Carolina Tarheels. 

Tonight, Boston College lost to Harvard.  Yes, that Harvard.

Potential headline?  “The Eagles have  Crash Landed.”

Laura Bush has just inked a multi-million dollar book deal with Scribner.  President Bush says for that much money he’ll read one too.

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Laura Bush’s book will apparently be an “intimate account” of what really went on in the White House.  President Bush is looking forward to reading it, so he can find out too.

And former President George Herbert Walker Bush said he wanted to see his son Jeb become President?  He couldn’t have thought of this sooner, as in before the 2000 Republican primary and the subsequent Presidential election?

Chad Pennington has just won the NFL comeback player for the second time.  In addition, Magic Mountain has just renamed a roller coaster in his honor.

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If Pennington and the Dolphins make the Super Bowl, will the National Anthem be sung by Cher?

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Oregon State beat Pittsburgh in the Sun Bowl 3-0.    Yes, that is correct, 3-0.      The Bowl trophy will apparently now be remade to resemble a smaller version of the Stanley Cup.

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Bill and Hillary Clinton will be dropping the crystal ball in Times Square New Year’s eve.      The organizers had originally thought to have it thrown to them, but for some reason last week rescinded Brett Favre’s invitation.

From Bill Littlejohn:

Charles Barkley, who’s also had issues with gambling, has now been arrested for DUI.  This is what’s known as  pulling a “Daly Double”

English sports may seem a world away – English athletes, not so much.

The following are real quotes as collected by the London Telegraph:

From Ronnie O’Sullivan – snooker legend “I first played with my left hand when I was 17. Things weren’t going well.  I needed to find a way through and it felt good.  My left hand is like a mistress.  My wife is my right hand and my mistress is my left.  It’s been good to me.

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Olympic cyclist Chris Hoy, not suffering from any lack of confidence  – “Chris Hoy thinks that the day Chris Hoy refers to Chris Hoy in the third person is the day that Chris Hoy disappears up his own —.”

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And English rugby coach Brian Ashton after being upset by Wales in the Six Nations championship, showing he is ready for the NFL, at least the post-game interviews. “One of our key messages before the game was not to feed Wales.  In the second half we took all our food out of the cupboard and put it on a plate for them.”

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And journalists don’t change that much either:

This is after jockey Rudy Walsh chose to ride runner-up Kauto Star rather than the winning horse Denman in the Cheltenham Gold Cup  (a big English race.)

The question (from Derek Thompson)  “Any thoughts now about whether you should have gone for Denman or whatever?

Walsh “That’s probably the most ridiculous question I’ve ever been asked.”

“It is, I know, but I had to ask you.”

“No, you didn’t have to ask me.”

The NBA game Christmas evening between the Celtics and Lakers was the most watched regular season game in four years.  Which means at least one of two things  – a lot of Americans are big Celtics-Lakers fans, and/or more Amercans than ever were looking for an excuse not to talk to their relatives.

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With all the uncertainty in the world it is good to know some things are constant – like Brett Favre,  contemplating retirement, again.

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Sarah Palin doesn’t understand what the fuss is about people thinking Barack Obama can walk on water. She points out that this time of year ANYONE can do it in Alaska.
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Poor Sarah Palin, not only did she and John  McCain lose out in November, now Barack Obama has also won the swimsuit competition.

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And after  an inauspicious start which included dropping his pants in the locker room at halftime, Mike Singletary will be offered a multi-year deal to coach the 49ers.   Wonder if this means his quarterback coach will be Warren Moon?

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This joke is a joint effort with Bill Littlejohn.    While Tiger Woods has been taking time off,  Steve Hamilton has been mouthing off.  After his last nasty comments about Phil Mickelson,  there is talk of a movie about Hamilton –  working title – Caddy Smack.

More to follow on Boxing Day from England.

But an especially merry Christmas to so many who have made this column possible.    To some of the funniest people in the world –  in alphabetic order because almost anyone I know who writes comedy is as insecure as I am, and I don’t want to offend anyone – Jim Barach,  Will Durst,  Cam Hutchinson, Alex Kaseberg, Hartley Miller and Scott Ostler.   I appreciate all of their support and humor.  Anyone who likes what I write should google them and read their stuff.  Also Bill Littlejohn who doesn’t have his own blog but is pretty darn funny.

With special thanks to Barack Obama for choosing Joe Biden,  though this pales in comparison to John McCain’s inspired pick of Sarah Palin.    And of  course,  President George W. Bush, and Dick Cheney.    Who knew shredding the constitution could be so funny?   It will indeed be harder to write political jokes without them.  (Fortunately Barack Obama still sneaks a smoke from time to time, and his oldest daughter will become a teenager during his first term.  I can see it now “Yeah Daddy,  leader of the free world?  Fine, but I’m still not going to friend you on “Facebook.” )

Though how could I forget Obama’s greatest gift to comics everywhere – nominating Hillary Clinton as secretary of state.  And of course, bringing back Bill jokes.

But also a thanks for probable interim governor of Illinois Rod Blagovich.  For saving us from a humorless pre-Christmas week and making it possible for me to say I write bi-partisan jokes.  And though it was a while ago, also thanks to John Edwards, for putting  family values back in the limelight.

And in the sports world, of course, any wannabe joke writer owes a great debt to a the Detroit Lions.  And for individual performances,  Brett “Mr. Decisive” Favre and Plaxico Burress.   (Terrell Owens is in the Hall of Fame in this category.)

In baseball, the Mets took a boring pennant winning season and choked it into comic brillance.  The Yankees spent more money than anyone not named Hillary Clinton to finish second.    And the Cubs held off the jokes until October, and then disappeared so quickly that the only problem was writing jokes before the rest of the postseason was over.  (It is always easier when they crater in June.)    My favorite team, alas, the San Francisco Giants, provided plenty of jokes about power, by not having any.    I think the entire team hit less home runs than Bonds last year… or least it felt that way.

In the NBA alas, Kobe Bryant has so far behaved himself and the Lakers haven’t self destructed yet.  But the Oklahoma City Thunder seem well on their way to a record season, and the Wizards,  Clippers and Warriors seem well on their way to being a good supporting cast.

Plus thanks to the CFL Hamilton Tiger Cats – is it any wonder they are one of the closest teams to Detroit?    And the Cubs on ice – the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Am sure there are many others I have forgotten.   A famous man once said, “the world is a comedy to those who think, and a tragedy to those who feel.”    Fortunately, I think it can be both.

After the Washington Redskins ended a 5 game win streak by beating the Philadelphia Eagles 10-3, defensive coordinator Greg Blache revealed his secret strategy: Saturday night he showed his players a highlight reel of their best moments.   Detroit Lions coach Rod Marinelli is planning the same thing next week – apparently the team has won almost half their coin tosses.

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or  – choose your punchline.

Before snapping their five game losing streak Sunday, the Washington Redskins were shown a highlight reel of their best moments before Sunday’s game, to a soundtrack of the Average White Band’s “Pick Up the Pieces.”   Apparently the Lions’ coaching staff has plans to show a video too -if they can find a recording of…

Linda Rondstadt’s “You’re No Good.”

or

Neil Young’s “Helpless.”

Or the most cheerful thought of all about the 2008 season.

Hall and Oates “It’s Over.”

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In a recent poll 1 out of 5 Americans voted Dick Cheney the worst vice president ever.  The other 4 of 5 voted him the worst president ever.

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Or

In a recent poll 1 of 5 Americans voted Dick Cheney the worst president ever.   Amazing,  I didn’t know 4 of 5 Americans could even remember Spiro Agnew.

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The new movie  “Valkyrie,” based on a true story about a plot to assassinate Hitler is billed as a “thriller.”      President Bush is particularly interested in seeing the movie, he can’t wait to find out how it ends.