Covering the world of sports, from time to time, I come across a few off-the-wall stories that would make anyone chuckle.
Two such stories emerged over the long weekend.
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Nick Bonino almost missed Game 5 of the NHL’s Eastern Conference Final because of car trouble.
He told reporters that “the power steering went out in the middle of the highway” as he drove his truck to the rink before the game.
Bonino managed to pull over to the side of the highway and teammate Phil Kessel picked him up and drove to the arena.
Bonino had a couple of assists in Pittsburgh’s dominating 7-0 win over Ottawa on Sunday while Kessel had a goal and an assist … two, if you count helping a stranded Bonino.
This weekend’s other wild tale came hours after Scott Dixon won the pole position for the Indianapolis 500.
He and former racing star Dario Franchitti went out to get some food at Taco Bell when they were allegedly robbed at gunpoint while they ordered their food in the drive-thru.
Police say two boys, aged 14 and 15, were arrested a short time later.
Dixon’s IndyCar teammate Tony Kanaan was apparently supposed to go with Dixon and Franchitti for the late night food run.
He told reporters that Dixon didn’t even have his wallet on him at the time and was forced to hand over his wife’s wallet.
Talk about salt in the wound.
Rick Zamperin is an Assistant Program/News/Senior Sports Director at AM900 CHML and a commentator for Global News.