Totally Random

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Sergio Garcia did not win any of his four matches at last year’s Ryder Cup, but that’s not the reason he gives for Europe losing to the United States.

Instead, he blames the small locker room, the playing of the national anthems and his cold relationship with Padraig Harrington.

‘The U.S. team played their cards well,’ Garcia told the Mirror. ‘They knew where the pins were going to be and the tees and we didn’t. The locker room we had was really, really small and uncomfortable. I wish it had been even half the size of theirs. We had two showers, one next to a toilet. At the opening ceremony they played my anthem twice, once when the Spanish flag was raised and once when the Swedish flag was raised.’

As for Harrington, he said, ‘He is not my best friend. It’d probably not be good for us to be paired together.’

Trivia time

How many times has Harrington played in the Ryder Cup?

The hits keep on comin’

The postseason criticism of Brett Favre continues, raining down from unusual places. Now, even boxing trainer Teddy Atlas has joined the chorus.

Atlas, a friend of former New York Jets Coach Eric Mangini, told the New York Post, ‘I think Brett Favre basically is a selfish guy. Brett Favre goes out there with his gray hair, his Wranglers and gets up when he gets hit. I understand why people like that. But there’s another side. He’s a selfish guy.’

Overpriced Shaq

How real estate mimics real life, or at least NBA life:

Shaquille O’Neal has put his Miami Beach estate up for sale, with a price tag of $25 million, according to the New York Post. That sounds like a lot, but over the last two years, the price has gone the way of O’Neal free-throw percentage. In November 2007, the 19,000-square foot home cost was priced at $35 million.

Built in 1992 by former Miami Heat center Rony Seikaly, the house has eight bedrooms and 10 bathrooms. The property, which sits on 2.5 acres of land, also features a tennis court and a two-bedroom guesthouse.

Don’t cry for O’Neal, though. He will still make a sizable profit, having purchased the house in 2004 for $18.8 million.

Trivia answer

Four.

And finally

David Moore of the Dallas Morning News, putting George Karl’s 900th NBA coaching victory in perspective: ‘When Karl picked up his first win in 1984, Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony was 6 months old.’

-- Mike Penner