Sports Potpourri

Potpourri when literally translated from French means “rotten pot.”  Nowadays, mothers across the planet, in an all-out assault on odour, use a dried blend of flowers, herbs and spices to freshen the air.  Believe it or not, I have many column ideas that never see the light of day.  Plus, there’s the assortment of quick-takes, one-liners and teasers that bubble into my brain while covering and watching sports.

So here are some of these random thoughts—a sports potpourri.  And yes, I’m sure some of them are rotten.

–Terrell Owens will have his own reality show on VH1 this summer.  I thought “Jackass” was already a huge reality hit…

–After losing 10-2 to Buffalo in a January NHL game, Edmonton Head Coach Craig MacTavish said the game was “a debacle of monumental proportions.”  Much like his fashion sense…

–It’s tough being Barry Bonds right now.  Recently, the New York Times reported U.S. federal authorities have detected anabolic steroids in the slugger’s urine samples.  Also, sources say the Major League’s all-time home run king has an ex-teammate ready to testify against him.  All that and Bonds still can’t find a decent “cream” for his skin since BALCO was shut down.  A shame since winter is hell on a person’s skin.

–Another NHL star has signed a contract with a term over a decade.  Detroit has inked Henrik Zetterberg to a 12-year $73 million dollar extension.  The Swede joins Washington’s Alexander Ovechkin, the New York Islanders’ Rick DiPietro, Tampa Bay’s Vincent Lecavalier and Philadelphia’s Mike Richards who have all recently signed deals over 10 years in length.  Recession?  What recession?

–At the Australian Open, Rafael Nadal and Fernando Verdasco played a five set match in a brisk 5 hours and 14 minutes in the Men’s Semifinals.  It took the two men nearly 3-and-a-half hours to play the first 3 sets alone.  And tennis wonders why it’s having difficulty drawing and keeping new viewers.

–Upon watching Josh Koscheck lose to Thiago Alves at UFC 90, announcer Bill Goldberg said, “Koscheck can really take a punch.”  I thought—sure—but he shouldn’t take one every 2.5 seconds.

–I’m not sure if anyone considered Joe Torre the nicest guy on the planet, but in his new book, “The Yankee Years,” the former New York manager seems to have no problem hacking his former club.  According to reports, Torre reveals in the book that teammates called Alex Rodriguez “A-Fraud.”  Also, Torre said of two of his former pitchers, “the difference between Kevin Brown and David Wells is that both make your life miserable, but David Wells meant to.”  I’m guessing Torre has no plans to visit the New Yankee Stadium anytime soon.

–It’s official.  Peter Forsberg will not make a comeback in the NHL this season.  It’s clear to me, Forsberg has seen Mats Sundin’s “scintillating” return in Vancouver and concluded there was no way he could play at such a high level.

–It seems there’s a growing problem in sumo wrestling.  Recently, “Wakakirin,” real name–Shinichi Suzkawa, was arrested and accused of marijuana possession.  He’s the fourth sumo in the last year to be linked to cannabis.  With girth being the biggest asset in the sport, anything that gives an athlete “the munchies” must be considered a performance-enhancing drug.

And finally…

–The Boston Celtics have fired their leprechaun mascot “Lucky.”  It’s a stunning development for the defending NBA champs.  Lucky, a.k.a. Damon Lee Blust, missed several public appearances and was canned.  Apparently, the club isn’t scared of jinxing itself by making this move in the middle of another stellar campaign.  But get this–Blust haed a 6-figure contract.  Really?  Over $100,000 a year to be a total ass in public?  Nice work if you can get it.  Just ask Sean Avery…