It's one thing for a player to be taunted by a fan at a stadium.
It's another thing for a player to be taunted while he's eating a meal at a restaurant.
Such was the case for Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant last week.
Bryant and the Cowboys were preparing to face the New Orleans Saints on Sunday night. The Pro Bowler was motivated by several Saints fans at a Dallas-area restaurant.
"I just wanted to go get a great meal, just enjoy a little bit of family time with my brother," Bryant told KRLD-FM, via The Dallas Morning News. "And there were a lot of Saints fans. I went to Pappadeauxs. You know, it's like a Creole spot. And you know me. When people get to disrespecting, I got to say something back, but I didn't.
"A lady was saying 'Who Dat? Who Dat? I don't care if he's being right there. Who Dat?' ... while I was trying to eat my meal. So I had to keep calm, which I did. And in my mind I was like, 'Man, this lady need to shut up.' Well, it was a little worse than that. But, I kept my composure. And I was like, 'Man, I really hope we beat the brakes off of them.' And I really hope she tuned in. I know she did."
The final score Sunday night?
Dallas 38, New Orleans 17.
Bryant caught the final touchdown of the game to help the Cowboys seal the victory and go 3-1.
"You know what the greatest thing about tonight was?" Bryant asked. "I got to close it out. I got to close it out, man. Dagger. And shout out to that lady. And I really hope she sees this. Cause I'm going straight to Twitter after I get dressed."
He said it
The Star-Tribune's Jim Souhan on the Minnesota Twins firing veteran manager Ron Gardenhire:
"As unpopular as it has become to agree with any decision made at Target Field, the local ballclub got this right," Souhan wrote.
"The Twins fired manager Ron Gardenhire at the right time, and for the right reasons.
"They are keeping General Manager Terry Ryan for the right reasons.
"If they want to earn their first triple crown of decision-making this decade, they need only hire Paul Molitor as their next manager.
"Under Gardenhire, the Twins' playing style deteriorated, while ex-Twins flourished elsewhere.
"Relentless losing and Gardenhire's willingness to critique players publicly eroded his authority in the clubhouse.
"Ryan hired Gardenhire in 2002 and re-signed him after the 2013 season. If any baseball executive would have kept Gardenhire as his manager, it would have been Ryan. That his last, best ally would decide to fire him tells you all you need to know about Gardenhire's managing down the stretch of another lost season.
"Why should Gardenhire go and Ryan stay? Because Gardenhire is responsible for the on-field product on a nightly basis, and the product was often embarrassing. Ryan is responsible for the overall health of the organization and, despite 91 losses this season, the Twins could be on the verge of another 10-year run of success."
They're "honest"
The satirical sports website sportspickle.com has a weekly feature called "Honest NFL Headlines."
Here are some of the highlights:
• "Cowboys give false hope to their idiot fans."
• "So it turns out Aaron Rodgers is much better than Jay Cutler."
• "Bengals, Cards only undefeateds; '72 Dolphins already drunk."
• "Everyone in England reportedly huge fans of bad football now."
• "22 positions J.J. Watt could start at for Texans."
SPORTS QUIZ
What school did Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant play for?
ANSWER
Oklahoma State.
Sports on 10/01/2014