http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/12935858p-13783612c.html
Sports Forum: Moments to forget
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Sunday, May 22, 2005
Onterrio Smith's airport detention for packing the "The Whizzinator" may set the standard for all-time ignominious moments in area sports history. But it doesn't necessarily stand alone. We unearthed some others that made for some rich punch lines then and now.
Pedal to the metal (1931): Tony Freitas threw hard and fast and drove his trusty Model-T the same way. The winningest minor-league left-hander in history, mostly with the Sacramento Solons, Freitas was arrested and jailed for a repeat speeding violation in the Bay Area (the car got up to 56 mph). Freitas convinced the judge from behind bars to let him pitch in front of three major-league scouts. He was granted that pass, escorted by a deputy, pitched, then was returned to his cell to finish his five-day sentence. And he did make the big leagues, playing from 1932 to 1936.
Dine and dash (1990): The Kings were so bad, they didn't even have table manners. After five players enjoyed a hearty meal at the Denny's next to the team hotel in Cleveland, they left a pile of change as payment. Police were summoned to the hotel, and arrests seemed imminent, with a frantic coach Dick Motta insisting there was a game to be played in a matter of hours. A sergeant said, "After we book them and if they make bail, they can go to the game." Finally, team trainer Bill Jones offered a wad of cash, well over $100, and the Denny's manager changed his mind about pressing charges.
In the name of Shaq (2003): On the night that Shaquille O'Neal scored his 20,000th career point - at Arco Arena, of all places - he left the region steaming not just because the Kings won 107-99. Someone was able to get to the ball before Shaq was presented with his memento and defaced it, writing, "Shaq is an ... ." The Kings' front office, with crimson faces, apologized, and the ball was cleaned up and reissued.
In honor of Ma (2004): Keith Lewis, a 49ers safety from Valley High School, was so indebted to his mother, Gianna Lewis, that he decided to have her name tattooed onto his arm in Japanese characters. Only problem was, the writing turned out to be jibberish.
Game Boy pains (1991): With the 1990-91 season already lost, promising Kings rookie Lionel Simmons complained of pain and tightness in his forearms and finally had to sit out some games to get better. Bill Jones, the Kings' trainer, finally figured out what was wrong. Simmons was hooked on video games, and he played more when told to stay home and rest. Doctors diagnosed it as "Nintendo tendinitis." Jones said he could officially say he'd seen it all.
PAMScam Hornets (2002): You're not trying unless you're Pamming, right? Four Sacramento State defensive linemen sprayed each other with the cooking oil PAM on the sidelines at Montana. Brad Osterhout, right, said he got the idea after watching former NFL nose tackle Jim Burt talk about it on TV. Sac State made national news for the laughs, and Sac State athletic director Terry Wanless would say, "I think the charges against us won't stick."
Quiet in there! (1995): Cordova High School alumnus Randy Veres made baseball infamy while with the Florida Marlins. He missed time after nearly crushing his hand for beating on his hotel-room walls in an effort to get his neighbors to pipe down.
Tizzy Rules (1993): The "Tizzy Rules" were meant to be a gag, with someone listing Kings star Wayman Tisdale as the author of a 10-point plan to kick back. Kings players insisted it was a prank that blew up in their faces, and fans wondered if it really wasn't further proof of what they long suspected, that the athletes regarded the team as a joke. Rule No. 6 read, "If you hurt your big toe, tell 'em you can't go." No. 10 read, "They can work you as long as they want but not as hard as they want."
Johnny Mac blows up (2003): During a World TeamTennis match at Sunrise Mall, the racket-whacking bad boy of his sport was in foul, vintage form. Playing for the New York Sportimes, John McEnroe was disqualified for spewing obscenities at officials and the public address announcers. Officials called the match, but Sacramento Capitals coach Wayne Bryan convinced the officials to overturn the decision, which he later said he regretted.
Have Gun, Will Travel (1968): Pat Stapleton of Boston claimed he was the heavyweight champion of Ireland when he came to Memorial Auditorium to take on Sacramento's Bill McMurray, the state heavyweight champion. With McMurray waiting in the ring in front of a full house, promoter Don Chargin couldn't convince the suddenly uneasy Stapleton to budge from his dressing room. Desperate, Chargin sought out a city cop friend, borrowed his gun and marched his boxer into the ring with a towel draped over the piece. A left jab to the forehead in the first round finished Stapleton, who dropped as if someone had shot him.
Sports Forum: Moments to forget
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Sunday, May 22, 2005
Onterrio Smith's airport detention for packing the "The Whizzinator" may set the standard for all-time ignominious moments in area sports history. But it doesn't necessarily stand alone. We unearthed some others that made for some rich punch lines then and now.
Pedal to the metal (1931): Tony Freitas threw hard and fast and drove his trusty Model-T the same way. The winningest minor-league left-hander in history, mostly with the Sacramento Solons, Freitas was arrested and jailed for a repeat speeding violation in the Bay Area (the car got up to 56 mph). Freitas convinced the judge from behind bars to let him pitch in front of three major-league scouts. He was granted that pass, escorted by a deputy, pitched, then was returned to his cell to finish his five-day sentence. And he did make the big leagues, playing from 1932 to 1936.
Dine and dash (1990): The Kings were so bad, they didn't even have table manners. After five players enjoyed a hearty meal at the Denny's next to the team hotel in Cleveland, they left a pile of change as payment. Police were summoned to the hotel, and arrests seemed imminent, with a frantic coach Dick Motta insisting there was a game to be played in a matter of hours. A sergeant said, "After we book them and if they make bail, they can go to the game." Finally, team trainer Bill Jones offered a wad of cash, well over $100, and the Denny's manager changed his mind about pressing charges.
In the name of Shaq (2003): On the night that Shaquille O'Neal scored his 20,000th career point - at Arco Arena, of all places - he left the region steaming not just because the Kings won 107-99. Someone was able to get to the ball before Shaq was presented with his memento and defaced it, writing, "Shaq is an ... ." The Kings' front office, with crimson faces, apologized, and the ball was cleaned up and reissued.
In honor of Ma (2004): Keith Lewis, a 49ers safety from Valley High School, was so indebted to his mother, Gianna Lewis, that he decided to have her name tattooed onto his arm in Japanese characters. Only problem was, the writing turned out to be jibberish.
Game Boy pains (1991): With the 1990-91 season already lost, promising Kings rookie Lionel Simmons complained of pain and tightness in his forearms and finally had to sit out some games to get better. Bill Jones, the Kings' trainer, finally figured out what was wrong. Simmons was hooked on video games, and he played more when told to stay home and rest. Doctors diagnosed it as "Nintendo tendinitis." Jones said he could officially say he'd seen it all.
PAMScam Hornets (2002): You're not trying unless you're Pamming, right? Four Sacramento State defensive linemen sprayed each other with the cooking oil PAM on the sidelines at Montana. Brad Osterhout, right, said he got the idea after watching former NFL nose tackle Jim Burt talk about it on TV. Sac State made national news for the laughs, and Sac State athletic director Terry Wanless would say, "I think the charges against us won't stick."
Quiet in there! (1995): Cordova High School alumnus Randy Veres made baseball infamy while with the Florida Marlins. He missed time after nearly crushing his hand for beating on his hotel-room walls in an effort to get his neighbors to pipe down.
Tizzy Rules (1993): The "Tizzy Rules" were meant to be a gag, with someone listing Kings star Wayman Tisdale as the author of a 10-point plan to kick back. Kings players insisted it was a prank that blew up in their faces, and fans wondered if it really wasn't further proof of what they long suspected, that the athletes regarded the team as a joke. Rule No. 6 read, "If you hurt your big toe, tell 'em you can't go." No. 10 read, "They can work you as long as they want but not as hard as they want."
Johnny Mac blows up (2003): During a World TeamTennis match at Sunrise Mall, the racket-whacking bad boy of his sport was in foul, vintage form. Playing for the New York Sportimes, John McEnroe was disqualified for spewing obscenities at officials and the public address announcers. Officials called the match, but Sacramento Capitals coach Wayne Bryan convinced the officials to overturn the decision, which he later said he regretted.
Have Gun, Will Travel (1968): Pat Stapleton of Boston claimed he was the heavyweight champion of Ireland when he came to Memorial Auditorium to take on Sacramento's Bill McMurray, the state heavyweight champion. With McMurray waiting in the ring in front of a full house, promoter Don Chargin couldn't convince the suddenly uneasy Stapleton to budge from his dressing room. Desperate, Chargin sought out a city cop friend, borrowed his gun and marched his boxer into the ring with a towel draped over the piece. A left jab to the forehead in the first round finished Stapleton, who dropped as if someone had shot him.
