Wake-up call: Mike Scioscia, a pinkie finger, Kimbo Slice
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First things first: Mike Napoli and Mike Scioscia. Similarities? Napoli was the hero in Game 3 last night against the Red Sox, forcing a Game 4 tonight. Two home runs and scoring the winning run in the top of the 12th. How many times I remember Scioscia stepping to the plate and getting the critical hit for the Dodgers. Let’s see ... They’re both catchers. They’re both hefty guys (Napoli is 6 feet and listed at 215; Scioscia is 6-feet-2 and his playing weight was listed at 220) with terrific fielding percentage (.989 over three seasons for Napoli and .988 for Scioscia from 1980 through 1992) and decent batting averages (Napoli hit .273 this past season and Scioscia in the World Series-winning season of 1981 hit .276.) The big difference, of course, is that Sciosia batted left-handed. And he has a couple of World Series rings.
On a related note: Did the Chicago Cubs choke or merely get overwhelmed by Dodgers pitching. Answer: Maybe the Cubs just need to get more left-handed hitters in that lineup of theirs to overcome strong right-handed pitching. So many Cubs fans are depressed today as they head back to work. I feel surrounded by them.
The finger: I’m still shaking my head that Mesa State College offensive lineman Trevor Wikre was willing to forgo a finger for football. He missed the Mavericks’ game Saturday at Colorado School of Mines, but will be back this week, minus his right pinkie, which he had fractured so severely doctors said he would need surgery. Of course, the doctors didn’t mean he should have it amputated. But that’s what Wikre did so he could get back to playing football faster. “I’m just short one,” Wikre said with a chuckle. “But this game means that much to me. This team means that much to me.” This guy clearly lives in the now. Plus, he admitted it will make a good story when he’s old. And no doubt wondering, ‘What was I thinking?’
More football amazement: At No. 25 in the Associated Press college football poll is Ball State. That’s right. Ball State. And still not in the top 25? UCLA. This marks the first time Ball State has been ranked in the top 25. USC comes in at No. 8.
Turning to the NFL: Would the Miami Dolphins be the talk of the day if not for Bill Parcells? And who would have thought the Chargers would be 2-3 (are we looking at Norv Turner?) or the Titans 5-0? Poor Norm Chow. He and the Titans part ways only to join a learning-as-they-go UCLA. But with Kevin Craft getting better with each game, things could change.
Not getting better: Kimbo Slice. On Saturday night what did he last, 14 seconds? Against a guy with neon pink in his hair?
-- Debbie Goffa
Top photo: Angels manager Mike Scioscia during introductions of Game 3. That was Sunday night. By early Monday morning, his team had won. Credit: Greg M. Cooper / US Presswire
Image of baseball card courtesy of the Topps Co.