LITTLE ROCK — Everyone checks out early here
Associated Press columnist Jim Litke doesn’t think much of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s warning to players in October that the Pro Bowl might be dropped if they don’t pick up their play.
“Next thing you know, he’ll be threatening to hold his breath,” Litke writes. “Instead of calling his bluff, which is what anyone who doesn’t get the consolation prize of a week’s vacation in Hawaii should have done, they promised to try harder.
“At the time, it sounded like one of those things kids say just to get their parents off their backs. That seemed even more true this week, when cellar-dwelling Kansas City somehow managed to get five players selected to the AFC squad. That’s three more than the number of wins the Chiefs have posted so far this season - when they were supposed to be trying - which raises the question: Will anyone who tunes into the Pro Bowl on Jan. 27 be able to tell the difference?”
Litke doesn’t think it ultimately matters because an average of 12.5 million viewers watched last year’s game and Goodell’s “not about to cancel the Pro Bowl. The one lesson that’s been reinforced time and again since he took the job five years ago is that there’s no such thing as too much NFL - on the tube, online and even when most of the players are on vacation.”
Zombies lacking
Tracee Hamilton of The Washington Post on the Redskins winning six consecutive games to set up Sunday night’s showdown with Dallas for the NFC East title: “If you scripted this, Hollywood would reject it because 1) it’s too unbelievable and 2) there are no zombies.”
Tarnished Knight
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald makes an easy choice for this year’s “pettiness award” by sports media: ESPN’s Bob Knight.
Knight “refused to utter the word ‘Kentucky’ during last season’s NCAA Tournament because of his dislike for Coach John Calipari.
Knight referred to Kentucky as ‘that team from the SEC.’ ”
Halftime stance
Want to participate in the Super Bowl? Then it’s time to show off your moves.
No, not your stiff-arm, juke or spin. Instead, photos of head bopping, feet tapping and hip shaking are necessary to earn a place onstage with Beyonce during halftime of the Feb. 3 Super Bowl at the Superdome in New Orleans.
The Grammy winner will be joined by 100 fans, chosen in a photo contest - at www.pepsi.com/halftime - that runs today through Jan. 11. The pictures will be used in a TV ad introducing Beyonce’s halftime performance, and 50 of those people - along with a friend - will be selected to join the singer.
And the contest isn’t just open to all the single ladies.
J-E-T-S, joke, joke, joke
Dwight Perry of The Seattle Times decided to kick the New York Jets while they’re down.
“No Dick Clark this New Year’s Eve? No problem. Maybe one of the Jets can drop the ball in Times Square.”
“Don’t have the receipt? Good luck trying to get much in the return line for that Mark Sanchez jersey you got as a holiday gift.
One store in New York is now selling them for $10. Two weeks ago, it was $79.99.”
Quote of the day
“We just want to send out a message to anyone that comes in here that they’re going to have a hard time.” Arkansas guard BJ Young on protecting the home court at Walton Arena in Fayetteville
Sports, Pages 20 on 12/29/2012