Fisher's deed trumps Clemens' greed
In just a matter of days, sports presented us with the best and the worst of human nature.
The best was Utah Jazz guard Derek Fisher's coast-to-coast day last Wednesday.
He spent most of the day in New York, where his 10-month old daughter was undergoing surgery and chemotherapy for a potentially fatal eye cancer.
It would have been understandable if Fisher had missed Wednesday night's in Salt Lake City against Golden State. After all, family comes first and Utah coach Jerry Sloan, whose wife died from cancer nearly three years ago, understands that better than anybody.
But Fisher, a former University of Arkansas-Little Rock star, also knew he couldn't let his other family -- his team -- down. So with permission from his wife, he flew cross-country, got to the arena in the third quarter and scored all of his five points in overtime in a 127-117 victory.
Folks, it doesn't get any better than that for a lump-in-the-throat story line.
Then, earlier in the week, there was the contrasting greed of newly-signed Yankees part-time pitcher Roger Clemens, who obviously doesn't care about team chemistry or morale.
As he did last year with the Astros (when he made a pro-rated $12,262,294 based on a $22 million full season salary), Clemens, who'll turn 45 in August, agreed to pitch the four months of the season for an obscene $28 million (prorated to a bargain $18,666,666 when he goes in the Yanks' payroll June 1).
Clemens' prima-donna deal calls for him to have the freedom to fly home to Houston on days he is not scheduled to pitch. If he isn't scheduled to pitch on a road trip, he doesn't have to go.
Teammates? The Rocket doesn't need no stinkin' teammates.
"He may be here sometimes and not be here sometimes," Yankees' general manager Brian Cashman said of Clemens. "We'll be happy when he shows up every fifth day to pitch for us."
If that doesn't make you hate the Yankees -- if you already don't -- what will?
Then there's Clemens' statement, explaining his return. He told reporters that "If you think it's about money, you're greatly mistaken."
OK Roger, fair enough that you came back again because you want to win another championship. But if it's not about the money, just sign all your earnings this year over to charity. Put your mouth where your fastball is.
The thing is that as long Clemens is allowed to do this year every year -- and pitches fairly effectively -- he may do this for another 10 years.
Some athletes can't stay retired. And some aren't very smart, like boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr., who said before his recent fight against Oscar De La Hoya that win or lose, he was retiring after the fight at age 30.
Now, after Mayweather pocketed $25 million to $30 million for the win that generated 2.15 million pay-per-view buys and $120 million in PPV revenue, he's reconsidered sitting in a rocking chair for the rest of his life. He wants De La Hoya to call him for a rematch, saying, "I think No. 2 would be even better because we can fight from toe-to-toe. And I really have nothing else to prove in this sport."
Except for the fact, Floyd that you don't even rank in the top 25 to 30 greatest boxers ever. You're just a paycheck grabber, someone whose concern about your bank account outweighs your legacy.
Spare ribs
ESPN.com has an NBA automatic draft lottery generator that will give Griz fans something to do until lottery day. Mr. Dry Ribs played the lottery 30 times and here's what happened: The Griz got Ohio State's Greg Oden nine times, eight as the No. 1 draft choice. The name that popped up the most -- 15 times -- was Florida's Joakim Noah, seven times as the No. 3 choice and eight times as the No. 4 pick. Texas' Kevin Durant was picked four times (all as the No. 2 choice) and Ohio State's Mike Conley twice. ... Tennessee's football team just locked up the key to winning the 2007 championship when this past week it hired former backup-backup-backup-backup quarterback Jim Bob Cooter. Cooter didn't see the field much in his career, appearing six times in games including three last year. Most of the time, he was the QB on the sideline signaling in plays from the offensive coordinator in the press box. Besides being a good guy and a smart kid, J.B. Cooter has the most fitting Southern name ever in the Vols' program. ... Another former Vols' quarterback, some guy named Peyton Manning, announced last week that his charity organization, the PeyBack Foundation, is distributing $500,000 to 70 youth-related charities in the Indiana, Tennessee and New Orleans areas. It includes four checks to Memphis organizations -- $8,000 each to Bridges, and the JIFF Ministry, and $5,000 each to Memphis Area Youth Preservation Society and the Metro Inner Faith Association. His biggest donation was $15,000 to Desire Street Ministries in Baton Rouge.
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