Second thoughts

Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel (left), who is listed at 5-10, 207, doesn’t think his lack of size will be an issue in the NFL, saying “I played like I’m 10 feet tall.”
Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel (left), who is listed at 5-10, 207, doesn’t think his lack of size will be an issue in the NFL, saying “I played like I’m 10 feet tall.”

15-year-old has perfect pick-me-up

A Louisiana teen with a rare form of tongue cancer bowled a perfect game last week, rolling strike after strike after strike as a crowd of friends and strangers cheered.

Alex Dupuy, 15, told The Advocate in Baton Rouge that he started feeling nervous around the 10th frame.

“It was nerve-wracking,” the member of the Holy Rosary bowling team said. “I really had a hard time bowling. I just kept telling myself to breathe in, breathe out.”

Perhaps even more amazing is that Alex is relatively new to the game of bowling. The Advocate reported that he started in October 2012. Then, Feb. 3, he was diagnosed with a rare form of tongue cancer.

“He was a little down and depressed and a little scared like all 15-year-olds would be, but bowling has really got him through it,” his mother said. “Bowling is such a big part of his life. It was very devastating when we found out, but we had to stay strong for our child and keep the faith. We have a lot of people praying for him, and it helps having so much support.”

Talking tall

Johnny Manziel measured in at 5-11, 207 pounds at the NFL combine. He was asked if he would like to make a statement on his size.

“No, sir,” Manziel said. “I play with a lot of heart, I play with a lot of passion. I played like I’m 10 feet tall, so the measurement to me is just a number.”

Add insult to injuries

Count Kevin Scarbinsky of AL.com among those who believe Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema was wrong to bring the death of Cal football player Ted Agu into the discussion regarding a proposed rule change in college football that would limit how quickly offenses can snap the football.

Bielema cited the recent death of Agu while expressing support for the proposal, going as far to say that injuries and even deaths could occur if college football didn’t do something to slow down the frantic pace of some offenses.

Agu died two weeks ago, but an official cause of death has yet to be released.

“Bielema’s argument is an insult to the memory of Agu and to his grieving family members and friends,” Scarbinsky wrote.

“It’s an insult to football officials, who always stop the game when a player goes down in apparent distress. It’s an insult to common sense and common decency.”

Broken record

Tuesday’s Indiana-Iowa basketball game in Bloomington,Ind., had to be postponed when a 60-pound ornamental plate fell from the ceiling about five hours before tip off.

From Dwight Perry of The Seattle Times: “Thus shattering the Assembly Hall record for flying metal set on Feb. 23, 1985, by Bob Knight’s flying chair.”

Headlines

From theonion.com: “Pitchers, Catchers Report to Spring Training Bars”

From sportspickle.com: “Johnny Manziel Blows an Impressive 0.20 on the NFL Combine Breathalyzer Test”

Quote of the day

“We’re pretty happy we ended the streak, but this is a whole new team. This isn’t the past.” Arkansas senior forward Coty Clarke on ending a 13-game losing streak in Starkville, Miss.

Sports, Pages 22 on 02/23/2014

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