If you’re eating, put the food down before you read the next sentence.
This time next week, QB Rick Mirer could be showing off his Super Bowl ring.
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Can’t say you weren’t warned.
SICK OF IT: So the Blackhawk Theo Fleury says he used “poor judgment” in regard to an incident where he apparently got whupped by bouncers at an Ohio strip club at 4 a.m. Gee, do you think so?
Maybe Fleury ditched his full-time aide who travels with him and fled the hotel. Maybe he drank at the Pure Platinum club, where alcohol is not served but customers can bring it in. Maybe his temper sparked a fight with club employees, who asked Fleury and two others to leave. Maybe his two unnamed “friends” thought the alcoholic Fleury was strong enough to resist temptation. But this is certain: Smartly or stupidly, when the Blackhawks signed Fleury this summer, they gave him yet another chance to come back and play, then another when he violated the rules of the after-care program the first time.
“I’ve had to go through what I had to go through,” Fleury said in December. “I feel very fortunate that I have another chance.”
Unfortunately, the rest of us just feel royally duped.
CHICAGO HOPE: This week, Eagles QB Donovan McNabb and his mom finished last in a food-bank donation competition that included Pittsburgh’s Jerome Bettis and mom, Chicago’s Brian Urlacher and mom, and the New York Giants Michael Strahan and mom. Team Urlacher won and now 1 million cans of soup will be donated in their behalf to food banks across the country. Guess this makes up for last season’s playoff loss.
GET ON WITH IT: Newsday reported that Pete Rose, the all-time hits king, has indicated to Bud Selig, who has no hits, that he’s willing for the first time to admit he bet on baseball. The newspaper cited an anonymous friend of Rose, who said Rose also would be willing to apologize for his betting denials the past 13 years and even serve a probationary period in order to gain reinstatement and Hall of Fame eligibility for 2004. The friend also slipped a note from Rose to Selig at recess that said “If you like me, check this box.”
WAIT A SECOND: Is this decision reviewable?
Despite going 11-5, the Tennessee Titans did not have one player voted into the NFL Pro Bowl. But Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher will coach the AFC in the Feb. 2 game in Honolulu.
Fisher is allowed to add one player to his roster and pick among three alternates.
The alternates were: San Diego linebacker Donnie Edwards (No sacks, 129 tackles, 5 INTs), Pittsburgh linebacker Jason Gildon (9 sacks, 67 tackles, no INTs), and Tennessee linebacker Kevin Carter (10 sacks, 71 tackles, no INTs).
Who do you think he chose?
PASS THE GUACAMOLE: En route to the Super Bowl this Sunday, the Oakland Raiders re-signed Jeremy Brigham, who was cut in training camp but activated when several Raiders tight ends went down with injuries. If you’re Brigham, that’s a tough decision. If he suits up for the game, he misses all those great Super Bowl parties.
BACK THE DOG UP: The day after Harvey the Hound, the Calgary Flames mascot, was assaulted by Edmonton Oilers coach Craig MacTavish after the mascot taunted the Oilers’ bench, Calgary Flames management apologized to the Oilers and reprimanded Harvey for going too far. Reminder: The NHL trading deadline is March 11.