One of college basketball's most creative traditions had some extra star power Thursday night.
Eighteen-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps made an appearance in Arizona State's famed "Curtain of Distraction" during the Sun Devils' 86-68 victory over visiting Oregon State.
With 13:47 left in the second half and Oregon State freshman Stephen Thompson at the free-throw line, Arizona State students parted the curtain behind the basket and revealed a shirtless Phelps with a swim cap on his head and a half dozen gold medals around his neck. Thompson tried to maintain his composure as Phelps pantomimed a freestyle stroke, but the 67.7 percent free-throw shooter had his first attempt rim out.
Phelps was again behind the curtain when it parted a second time, but this time he wore nothing but his swim cap, a bow tie and a Speedo. Thompson again missed his free throw as a smiling Phelps clapped his hands and encouraged the roaring crowd to get louder.
"I don't think you could have written it any better with the Oregon State player missing both free throws," Arizona State associate athletic director Bill Kennedy told Yahoo Sports. "You could see the look on his face. He couldn't help but look. He was trying to hold himself together, but you could tell by the look in his eyes he was going to miss the first one. Missing the second one was just icing on the cake."
The Curtain of Distraction is the brainchild of founding members of the Arizona State student group known as the 942 Crew.
Johnny? Be good
Things remain uncertain surrounding Johnny Manziel's future with the Cleveland Browns. At Thursday's 16th annual Greater Cleveland Sports Awards, Browns legend and Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown offered his take on the quarterback.
Brown said he wants to see Manziel remain with the team.
"To be honest, I don't want to see him traded or anything like that," Brown told Tom Reed of Cleveland.com. "I just never feel that's the answer to anything. But that's my opinion and I don't expect you to feel that way. I like Johnny."
At the end of the regular season, it looked like Manziel would be out of Cleveland, especially after he reportedly wound up in Las Vegas wearing a blonde wig and fake mustache the night before his team's Week 17 matchup, according to Shalise Manza Young of Yahoo.com.
Sports Illustrated's Peter King even said the Browns were "so done" with Manziel after the incident.
Yet, on Thursday night, Browns owner Jimmy Haslem said things with Manziel could be patched up, according to Nate Ulrich of Ohio.com.
"Your leadership has to be able to deal with players and I don't think that Johnny is a bad guy," Brown said. "But I think he needs someone to deal with him, give him an opportunity to be the nice Johnny, the intelligent Johnny.
"They don't come ready made, but on the other hand the argument is he's a man. He should know how to conduct himself. He has an opportunity and we've got all of that, but I like him and I hope they are able to relate and if they are able to relate then he will respect the coach."
QUIZ
Michael Phelps has how many Olympic medals?
ANSWER
22
Sports on 01/30/2016