Monday musings
Play-by-play analyst Al Michaels was traded from ESPN to NBC last week. As part of the deal, The Walt Disney Company (ESPN's parent) obtained the rights to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, a cartoon character Walt Disney created 79 years ago. Other cartoon characters were supposed to be involved, but those talks broke down when Goofy reportedly failed a drug test. Denver Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin allegedly sent a friend of his into the stands to confront some fans who were heckling him at a game last week. Sacramento Kings forward Ron Artest has said he will do the same thing to keep fans from harassing him, just as soon as he gets some friends. Former NHL player Rick Tocchet was indicted last week on charges that he operated an illegal sports gambling ring for several years. Bets allegedly included a 4-to-1 wager on whether Barry Melrose's mullet is actually a tranquilized animal. Anne Abernathy, a 52-year-old American known as "Grandma Luge," broke her right wrist during a crash in practice Sunday and might not compete in the Turin Games. Also in jeopardy for the games is "Grandpa Curling," who broke a hip Sunday taking his broom out of the closet. Figure skater Michelle Kwan withdrew from the Olympics on Sunday with a strained groin, effectively ending her career at age 25. Kwan is the most prominent American to have her career end in her 20s with a groin-related condition since Christina Aguilera. Seen at the game: Signs the Izzone made during the game against Purdue on Wednesday: "Remember the Comb-over," "Your season (picture of train going off cliff)," "Chuck Norris + Vin Diesel = Tom Izzo (Minus the Beard)," "Primary Colors —Brown + Gray" and our favorite: "My Grandma Has the Hots for Shannon Brown."