SPORTS QUOTES
Best of the year 2007
"I'm sure it wouldn't have been as romantic if we had lost." Jared Zabransky, Boise State quarterback, after teammate Ian Johnson proposed to girlfriend Crissy Popadics in the wake of the Fiesta Bowl upset of Oklahoma, Jan. 1.
"This wasn't the best team we've played." Ryan Smith, Florida safety, after a 41-14 BCS national championship victory over Ohio State, Jan. 8.
"I mean, if I was another player I would be amazed a little bit to see always the same guy winning." Roger Federer, after he won the Australian Open to give himself five of six Grand Slam titles, Jan. 28.
"When you get robbed, they don't give you your stuff back." Bruiser Flint, Drexel coach, after being left out of the NCAA tournament field, March 11.
"Pronger is like the mother. When the daddy's not happy, the family can still be happy. But when the mother is unhappy, nobody is happy." Teemu Selanne, Ducks forward, on the way the club indulges defenseman Chris Pronger, April 27.
"He was phenomenal tonight and I feel bad because my words don't give it justice for what he did. He was awesome and, at 22 years old, wow. Wow. Wow." Mike Brown, Cavaliers coach, after LeBron James' 48 points against Detroit in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals, May 30.
"There's a lot of guys who can bench press 300 pounds in the NBA who couldn't play dead in a cowboy movie." Rick Barnes, Texas basketball coach, defending Kevin Durant against criticism that he lacked strength, June 5.
"Pretty basic stuff. Let's Go, Ducks. Bring Home The Cup. I mean, there haven't been any haikus or anything." Dustin Penner, Ducks forward, on the reaction to the Ducks' run in his hometown of Winkler, Manitoba, June 5.
"That's a reason that should be broken by somebody people have heard of." Casey Blake, Indians third baseman, after a 26-game hitting streak that came within 26 of Joe DiMaggio, June 23.
"They ain't got no sweet tea and they ain't got no fried chicken." Boo Weekley, PGA Tour player from Jay, Fla., on the problem with a British Open in Scotland, July 21.
"It's an act of desperation by a general manager who is fighting to keep his job." Brian Burke, Ducks general manager, after Edmonton general manager Kevin Lowe gave Dustin Penner a $21.2 million offer sheet, July 27.
"He says, `You see these gray hairs? You gave them to me.' I say, `Yeah, and you see those championship rings? I gave them to you, too.' " Michael Irvin, ex-Cowboys receiver, on publicist Rich Dalrymple, at the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction, Aug. 4.
"I used to dream about this when I was a kid. Unfortunately, I was always the one hitting the home run." Mike Bacsik, Nationals pitcher, after he gave up Barry Bonds' 756th home run, Aug. 7.
"I'm out here to win. I'm not out here working on my farmer tan." Tiger Woods, at the PGA Championship, Aug. 7.
"I think we'll take the rest of the day off." Jerry Moore, Appalachian State coach, after a 34-32 upset of Michigan, Sept. 1.
"The ball just got away from me. Why do you think Tampa traded me?" Seth McClung, Brewers reliever, after he hit the Cardinals' Albert Pujols with a pitch, Sept. 25.
"I couldn't find London on the map if they didn't have the names of the countries. I swear to God. I don't know what nothing is. I know Italy looks like a boot. I learned that." Channing Crowder, Dolphins linebacker, before Miami's trip to London to play the Giants, Oct. 25.
"He's like the Wizard of Oz. Comb his hair, put a white shirt on him, wheel him out and he'll say anything you want." Craig MacTavish, Oilers coach, on Ducks' GM Burke, Oct. 27.
"Find the crow and I'll eat it." Joe Glenn, Wyoming coach, after guaranteeing a victory over Utah and then losing, 50-0, Nov. 10.
"When they play their games, there's nothing on but black-and-white King Kong movies." Lee Corso, ESPN analyst, on the chances of Hawaii's Colt Brennan winning the Heisman Trophy, Dec. 6.
"I've tried my best to stay away from the money because people back in Semmes, Ala., can't count that high." Jake Peavy, Padres' pitcher, after he signed a $52 million, three year extension, Dec. 12.
