FUNNY SPORTS QUOTES \ Source: wikipedia.com

          Baseball Umpire Ron Luciano Quotes

• "Any umpire who claims he has never missed a play is . . . well, an umpire." - from his book "The Umpire Strikes Back."
• "When I started, the game was played by nine tough competitors on grass, in graceful ball parks. But while I was trying to answer the daily quiz Quiz-O-Gram on the exploding scoreboard, a revolution was taking place around me. By the time I finished, there were ten men on each side, the game was played indoors on plastic, and I had to spend half my time watching out for a man dressed in a chicken suit who kept trying to kiss me." - after retiring
• "I never called a balk in my life. I didn't understand the rule." - regarding the sometimes misunderstood balk rule
• "The problem with Earl is that he holds a grudge. Other managers, if they disagree with a call, may holler and shout, but you can still go out for a beer with them after the game. Not Earl. He never forgets. Heck, he even holds your minor league record against you. Once, a couple of years ago, I made a controversial call at the plate. Earl charged out of the dugout, screaming that that was the same call I'd blown at Elmira in '66. That sort of thing can get to you." - From Phil Pepe and Zander Hollander's The Book of Sports Lists 3 (1981), p. 45, following his list of the five toughest managers he had to deal with. Weaver was the first four; No. 5 was Frank Robinson, of whom Luciano said, "He's Earl's protege."

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FUNNY SPORTS QUOTES \ Source: blogs.abc.net

Tennis Superstitions - The Weird and the Wonderful

Call them superstitions, or call them habits....whatever the name there's plenty of tennis players past and present who own up to having their own quirky rituals and some of them are right here at Hopman Cup XX.

Whether it's wearing the same pair of socks, playing the same music or even grabbing the same locker in the change room day after day, there's a whole bag of weird and wonderful routines on the circuit.

Tennis great and ABC TV expert commentator here at Hopman Cup Fred Stolle says one of his superstitions was to fold his towel neatly at every sit down between games. He also admits that whenever he played Wimbledon he would get the transport car to pick him up and take him to the arena at midday every day, regardless of what time his match started that afternoon or evening. Obviously his superstitious ways paid off with 18 Grand Slam Championships under his belt and an induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

Fellow ABC TV Expert Commentator and Australian great Geoff Masters says he never had time for superstitions when on court but knows plenty of other players quirky habits including some who would eat at the same restaurant and the same meal every night when taking part in a tournament. That includes former Hopman Cup star Kim Clijsters (HC XIII,XIV,XV,XVI) who once dined at the same Italian restaurant every night during a winning run at the French Open. Croatia's Goran Ivanisevic (HC VIII,IX) is a fan of the food routine, reportedly sitting at the same table at the same restaurant and ordering the same meal of fish soup, lamb and ice cream with chocolate sauce during one tournament. Ivanisevic also always tries to rise from his courtside chair after his opponent, if he serves an ace he asks for the same ball again, if he wins he then attempts to follow the same routine as closely as possible the following day and he doesn't like to stand on the court lines.

A number of other Hopman Cup stars share his superstition about those white lines. Swiss Miss Martina Hingis (HC VIII,IX,XI,XIII) never stepped on the tramlines between points and neither did American legend John McEnroe (HC II).

Fellow American Serena Williams (HC XV,XX) has plenty of habits...she ties her shoelaces the same way every game, tries to use the same shower before each match and is said to favour the same socks throughout an entire tournament.

Her stand-in for game one at this year's Hopman Cup Meghann Shaughnessy(HC XVII,XX) also has some rituals...if she is doing well at a tournament she'll sit at the same breakfast table every day, warm up on the same court and use the same shower.

Frenchman Arnaud Clement (HC XIV,XX) keeps the same headband when he wins to use again in the next match and Aussie Lleyton Hewitt (HC XIV,XV,XVI) is known to enjoy the Rocky anthem 'Eye of the Tiger' before a big game.

Another Hopman Cup champion Lindsay Davenport (HC VII,XI,XV) would never hold her trophy above her head until she won a Grand Slam. Prior to her US Open win in 1998 she would only ever hold the trophy next to her ear or chest. Whilst Russia's Marat Safin (HC XIII,XVI,XVII) is said to always travel with an 'evil eye' to ward off evil spirits and bad karma.

Hopman Cup XX VIP guest and tennis legend Martina Navratilova had her own superstitions when she played the circuit, apparently wearing the same pair of earrings during a tournament and often wearing a greenish blue tennis dress on the final day of an event.

ABC TV Hopman cup commentators Louise Pleming and Lisa McShea also own up to some superstitions though Louise admits hers came many years ago.

"When I was a child I used to make sure the loose balls never hit the back of the court if possible and if they did I wasn't too keen to use them again...but when I played the professional circuit I really couldn't follow up on that because the ball boys and girls had that under control."

Lisa McShea says she would always try to use the same shower at Grand Slam events, the same toilet and if possible even grab the same locker.

Although he hasn't been at Hopman Cup as yet, Spain's Rafael Nadal is very particular when it comes to his water bottle courtside, every sitdown making sure it goes back to exactly the same spot or position each time, right down to the centimetre.

And just to leave you with one final superstition from another Aussie tennis legend. Roy 'Emmo' Emerson - the only male player to win singles and doubles titles at all four Grand Slam events and an International Tennis Hall of Fame inductee - had a favourite pair of shorts that he would try to wear as often as possible to keep his winning streak alive!

 

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FUNNY SPORTS QUOTES \ Source: blogs.tampabay.com

Favorite Jewish sports figures

Sept, 2007

Al Rosen, the legendary third baseman for the Cleveland Indians in the 1940s and 1950s, once said, "When I was up in the majors, I always knew how I wanted it to be about me. … Here comes one Jewish kid that every Jew in the world can be proud of.''

Well, with Rosh Hashana beginning today at sundown, it's time to honor a list that all sports fans can be proud of. Here is my list of my favorite Jewish sports figures:

Amy Alcott: Won 29 times on LPGA Tour, including five majors.
Lyle Alzado: Two-time All-Pro, 1977 NFL defensive player of the year.
Red Auerbach: Perhaps greatest basketball coach/executive in NBA history.
Brad Ausmus: Three-time Gold Glove catcher with the Astros.
Max Baer: Former heavyweight champ and father of Jethro from the Beverly Hillbillies.
Gary Bettman: NHL commissioner since 1993.
Lou Boudreau: Seven-time baseball All-Star, 1948 American League MVP, Hall of Famer.
Ron Blomberg: Claim to fame? Major-league baseball's first designated hitter.
Larry Brown: Only coach to win NCAA and NBA title.
Sasha Cohen: Figure skater won silver at the 2006 Olympics.
Mark Cuban: Mavs owner gets our vote for most outrageous owner in sports.
Ben Davidson: Raiders great might be scariest football player of all time.
Bill Davidson: As owner, won Stanley Cup with Lightning and NBA titles with Pistons.
Al Davis: Raiders owner gets our vote for most controversial owner in history of sports.
Theo Epstein: Youngest GM in baseball helped Red Sox break World Series curse.
Mitch Gaylord: First U.S. gymnast to score a perfect 10.00 in the Olympics and won four medals at 1984 Games.
Sid Gillman: Longtime football coach a pioneer in the modern NFL passing game.
The Glazers: Bucs owners since 1995. Also own Manchester United soccer club.
Marty Glickman: Olympic sprinter and All-America football player. Also, noted broadcaster.
Robbie Gould: Bears kicker hit 24 straight field goals last season on way to All-Pro team.
Shawn Green: On the list of Jewish players, only Hank Greenberg has more homers.
Hank Greenberg: Five-time All-Star. Two-time MVP. Four-time homer champ. Hall of Famer.
Bud Greenspan: Master documentary filmmaker of the Olympics.
Ken Holtzman: Southpaw was a two-time All-Star and member of the A's dynasty in the early 1970s.
Red Holzman: Legendary NBA coach led Knicks to titles in 1970 and 1973.
Sarah Hughes: The 2002 Olympic figure skating champ. Older sister of skater Emily.
Zab Judah: Former welterweight champ was among best pound-for-pound boxers a few years ago.
Sandy Koufax: Three-time Cy Young winner and seven-time All-Star. Perhaps greatest Jewish athlete ever.
Jerry Krause: GM of one the NBA's best-ever teams: the Bulls of the 1990s.
Nancy Lieberman: On the short list of the greatest female basketball players of all time.
Marv Levy: Coached the Buffalo Bills to four consecutive Super Bowls.
Sid Luckman: Old-time quarterback in Hall of Fame, both college and pro football.
Shep Messing: Most famous goalkeeper of the old North American Soccer League.
Josh Miller: Hey, got to have a punter on the list.
Ron Mix: Hall of Famer, one of NFL's best offensive linemen ever.
Art Modell: Legendary owner of the Cleveland Browns/Baltimore Ravens.
Bobby Nystrom: Mr. Islander scored Cup-winning goal in 1980.
Gabe Paul: Baseball exec who served as Yankees GM during the glory days of the 1970s.
Corey Pavin: Golfer won the 1995 U.S. Open; member of three Ryder Cup teams.
Morgan Pressel: Only 19 and has already won a golf major.
Jerry Reinsdorf: Owner of White Sox and the Bulls. Greatest glory: the Michael Jordan era.
Al Rosen: The 1953 American League MVP was a four-time All-Star .
Bud Selig: Major League Baseball commissioner since 1992.
Mark Spitz: Arguably greatest swimmer ever. Won seven golds at 1972 Olympics.
David Stern: NBA boss generally considered one of sports greatest commissioners ever.
Steve Stone: Former Cubs announcer won 1980 AL Cy Young.
Kerri Strug: Best remembered for her vault on a severely sprained ankle in 1996 Olympics.
Stu Sternberg: Devil Rays owner the past two years and in danger of falling off our list if he doesn't get some bullpen help!
Steve Yeager: Co-MVP of the 1981 World Series while catching for the Dodgers.

 

 

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