Saturday, May 31, 2014

Foul Territory: Souled Out

By Jeffrey Boswell

* Money Talks, "D.S." Walks — Shelly Sterling has signed an agreement to sell the Los Angeles Clippers to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. Donald Sterling bought the team for $12.5 million in 1981, so after the sale, Sterling fought it somewhat bittersweet that he is very much "in the black."

* What Was Higher? The Winning Bid, or the Winning Bidder? — Or Mark Sanchez's "Butt Fumble" jersey sold for $820 on an NFL auction website. The sale marks the first time "Mark Sanchez: and "most valuable" have been used in the same sentence.

* He Calls it "Abstaining" — Tiger Woods withdrew from the U.S. Open on Wednesday as he recovers from back surgery. Usually, when Woods suffers from withdrawal, it involves 18 women, not 18 holes.

* Johnny Be Good Enough — Johnny Manziel said his recent Las Vegas trip should not be a story and did not hinder his commitment to the Cleveland Browns. Manziel said while he was in Vegas cavorting, he was just another "John."

* This is Scripps Turf — The Scripps National Spelling Bee ended in a tie for the first time in 52 years on Thursday. Sriram Hathwar of New York and Ansun Sujoe of Texas were the last competitors standing, as all of their rivals sat for a spell.

* Catcher in the Awry, or You're Out, Blame it On the Sprain — Dodgers backup catcher A.J. Ellis sprained his ankle celebrating Josh Beckett's no-hitter, and was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Monday. While Beckett's feat was a "no-hitter," Ellis' was a "no-brainer."

* Whine and Fees, or He Cried, Foul — Paul George of the Indiana Pacers was fined $25,000 by the NBA for publicly criticizing the officiating after the Pacers' Game 4 loss to the Heat on Monday night. Coincidentally, LeBron James was called for five fouls in 2½ quarters in Game 5 on Wednesday in Indianapolis. James questioned the calls, not to mention the validity of the adage, "Turnabout is fair play."