Antawn Jamison of the Washington Wizards explains out to teammate Gilbert Arenas exactly what he meant when he said to "shoot more" (katchop)
They started investigating two weeks ago, you guys just found about it,” Arenas said. “They just wanted to know where I got them from and make sure they’re not dirty guns.”
Reporters asked if Arenas at any time showed the guns to anyone, and he — despite the protests of Wizards PR staff — said “Yes, I showed them to someone, I showed them to team security when I handed them to them and said give them to the police.”
Did he take the guns out of the locker room at any time? His reply: “Yeah, I took them out of this locker room. I had to take them out to get them out of here to give to security. You see they didn’t take the whole locker out of here.”
Arenas told me last week “I wouldn’t have brought them to D.C. had I known the rules. After my daughter was born, I was just like, I don’t need these anymore. I don’t want them around the kids. We are working with the league and the authorities.”
Randy Moss of the New England Patriots likes the fake Randy Moss (katchop)
Moss and Shumaker went back and forth — Shumaker started with Moss’ signature “separation” move, drawing cheers from a sold-out Gillette Stadium. Moss saw what was going on, and responded with a move of his own, drawing more cheers. Shumaker continued the celebration, pumping his fist and getting the crowd louder and louder. Moss, egged on by his teammates, continued the interaction.
And as officials continued their review to see if Moss has crossed the goal line, Gillette Stadium erupted with a chant of “Ran-dy! Ran-dy! Ran-dy!”
Shumaker’s shared celebration with Moss was undoubtedly the lightest moment of the season at Gillette Stadium, and quickly became a hot postgame topic in the Patriots locker room.
Joe Gibbs wants everyone to know that he has nothing to do with the current state of the Washington Redskins.
Iron Eyes Cody weeps for the Washington Redskins (katchop)
For me, personally, I haven’t talked to Dan about major decisions or anything,” Gibbs said. “So for me, when I talk to him, it’s kind of a friend. . . . We hope all the decisions and everything he’s going to make — whatever they may be, I’m not aware of them — I think we all hope that they’re going to turn out best for the Redskins.”
Loose Gibbsian translation: The farther everyone gets away from overseeing this maddening mess of an organization, the better off every coach is. He doesn’t have to worry about Albert Butterworth’s caloric intake or his crass insubordination. He doesn’t have to worry about his own assistant coach interviewing for Zorn’s job. Or the second abysmal offensive performance in six nights, which the cruel-humor people at ESPN and NBC made America watch.
An unidentified Giants fan reacts in horror at the site of an intoxicated woman relieving herself outside Giants Stadium yesterday (real photo)
The halftime show Sunday afternoon was supposed to be a celebration for Giants fans in their team’s final regular-season game at Giants Stadium.
But the home team trailed badly by then on its way to a humiliating loss to the Carolina Panthers. So the mood at intermission was more like that at a funeral with 78,809 mourners.
Jon Gruden is attacked by his alter ego Chucky, shortly after the demonic doll learned he might be heading to Cleveland (katchop)
One of the rumors making the rounds in connection with Mike Holmgren’s possible return to Seattle was that Holmgren would then try to lure Jon Gruden, a former Holmgren assistant in Green Bay, out of the broadcast booth.
But Gruden has made it clear that he won’t coach next year, and since football coaches always tell the truth we’ll take Gruden at his word.
But he’s the latest theory that is snaking through the NFL rumor mill. If Holmgren decides to keep coach Eric Mangini in place for a year, Holmgren then can pursue Gruden after the 2010 season.
The New Orleans Saints are looking for their offense to rebound from their loss to the Dallas Cowboys last week.
Jeremy Shockey and the New Orleans Saints know they need to play much smarter (katchop)
There’s opportunities for big plays no matter who you’re playing. It’s just kind of finding the right situation, the right timing,” Brees said.
Payton said New Orleans brings a number of long passing plays into each game plan and understands the need to hit on some of them.
“Drew does a real good job of getting the ball down the field. A couple weeks ago at Washington we had a number of big plays, real big shot opportunities and those ended up helping us win,” Payton said. “It’s important offensively to do that.”
Unable to hit such plays against Dallas, the Saints faced seven third downs and converted only one.
“We didn’t execute, but there are things that can be fixed,” Brees said. “We have been a good team on third down. We have ever since coach Payton’s been here and we’ve all been here for four years. We just didn’t do it very well the other night.”
With the holidays arriving, we will be cracking open the archives again from time to time over the next week. But first, a quick look at some Katchop created photos that have recently infected the internet.
New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur became the NHL all-time shutouts leader, sparking lots of debate regarding New Jersey’s trap system and it’s role in Brodeur’s success.
In the eyes of some, Martin Brodeur's records are a result of playing behind the trap (katchop)
Further, more than any other club, the Devils has been committed to team defense. Brodeur’s first full season, 1993-4, coincided with Jacques Lemaire’s first behind the Devils bench, and Lemaire — certainly among the best coaches in league history — gave the team a structured system of play. The Devils have rarely departed from that style since, regardless of who was behind the bench.
Lemaire said Ken Dryden was the best goalie he ever saw, but Patrick Roy and Dominik Hasek rank as Brodeur’s peers among the top goalies in the last 20 years. A good case can be made for all three as the best of the era.
New England Patriots fans are concerned that Tom Brady, shown here ordering lunch during the 4th quarter on Sunday, has been distracted lately (katchop)
In the interim, it’s time to wonder about Brady’s health and effectiveness. In the last four weeks, the New England QB has four touchdown passes and six interceptions. He has not played a single game with more TDs than picks. Even at Miami, where Brady passed for 352 yards, he threw one interception in the end zone and another to effectively end the game. And yesterday he threw fewer passes in a complete game performance (23) than he has in any contest since the first week of the 2006 season.
Back then, the Patriots had no passing game amid the Deion Branch holdout. Behind the newly created tandem of veteran Corey Dillon and rookie Laurence Maroney, New England ran the ball 41 times in a 19-17 win over Bills at Foxborough. Pre-Randy Moss and pre-Wes Welker, there was much talk early that season of how the Patriots had become a running team.
The Brady of today looks far more like the Brady of 2006 than the aerial assault weapon of 2007.
New York Knicks head coach Mike D’Antoni, who said he “would even play Satan if it would help the Knicks win”, continues to keep Nate Robinson on the bench. Now Robinson wants a trade.
Mike D’Antoni thinks that Nate Robinson is worse than Satan (katchop)
D’Antoni kept Robinson on the bench. Goodwin said it was the strongest indication yet that Robinson doesn’t have a future in New York.
“D’Antoni did not even look Nate’s way, which … sent a clear message to me that he had no intention to play Nate Robinson anytime soon,” Goodwin wrote in an email to Yahoo! Sports. “Nate, despite whatever shortcomings coach D’Antoni may think that he has, is not Satan, but can clearly score.”
The Minnesota Wild lost much of their hockey gear when a fire erupted in the team’s equipment van.
Niklas Backstrom attempts to try out his fire damaged equipment during the Minnesota Wild's pregame skate (katchop)
The fire began at approximately 2:30 p.m. Eastern as the van was backing into Scotiabank Place. Firefighters remained on the scene for about 40 minutes. Police say that there were no injuries however a significant amount of the equipment inside was destroyed. Police are still investigating the cause of the blaze.
New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Einstein (katchop/canalstreetchronicles.com)
Payton, though, may be a better coach now than he was in 2006.
Besides the success of taking the Saints to the NFC Championship Game later that season, Payton had humbling seasons in 2007 (7-9) and 2008 (8-8) before this year’s 13-game winning streak has given the team a 13-0 record and in a chase for history.
“I think, just like any player, a coach going into his fourth season as a head coach, you just find ways to continue to better game plan, better motivate, all those things,” Brees said.
“We all live and learn and we all try to get better. I absolutely see him getting better and better every year.”
Dr. Anthony Galea’s treatment of Tiger Woods is going to be investigated by the Florida Department of Health.
Tigeroid Woods celebrates a clutch putt (katchop)
Although the DOH spokesman would not confirm or deny that an investigation into Galea was underway, “Florida statutes provides that the practice of medicine or an attempt to practice medicine without a license to practice in Florida is a felony of the third degree.”
Galea’s former assistant MaryAnne Catalano told authorities in September that Galea does not have a license to practice in the U.S.
“The UAI looks at the facts and determine if an investigation needs to take place,” Doc Kokol, the spokesman, told the Daily News. “If there is an investigation, (the DOH) could coordinate with local law enforcement.” Kokel added that there is no record of a state health care practitioner issued to Galea.
Jonathan Babineaux of the Atlanta Falcons admitted to police that he was smoking marijuana while operating his vehicle.
Jonathan Babineaux practices getting arrested during training camp (katchop)
During the stop an odor of marijuana could be smelled by the officer coming from the interior of the vehicle,” Schiralli said in the release.
According to the report, the officer asked Babineaux if there was any marijuana in the vehicle. The report stated “Babineaux looked scared and nervous. He rubbed his face and kept looking back at the vehicle.”
“Gwinnett County Police K9 responded to the location and a positive alert to the odor of narcotics was given by the dog,” said Schiralli.
During a search of the Escalade police found 41 grams of marijuana in three separate bags, according to Schiralli.
Former Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Holmgren is considering taking the open GM position with Cleveland Browns.
Mike Holmgren has evaluated the Cleveland Browns talent level and called it almost comical (katchop)
Holmgren arrived Monday after being invited by Cleveland owner Randy Lerner. He was again at team headquarters in Berea, Ohio, on Tuesday along with his agent, Bob LaMonte. Holmgren is not scheduled to leave Tuesday, a sign that could indicate the sides are working out details on a contract.
Browns spokesman Bill Bonsiewicz said Holmgren was scheduled to meet with coach Eric Mangini, but did not know if that meeting has taken place.
The length of Holmgren’s stay — and LaMonte’s inclusion — points to his strong interest in taking over the Browns, who have struggled since returning to the league as an expansion team in 1999. Cleveland has had four coaches, just two winning seasons and one playoff appearance in 11 years.
The New York Rangers are having a terrible season, and Chris Drury has to share some of the blame.
Chris Drury's offensive game was hit by a car last April. Sadly, it never recovered. (katchop)
Tortorella also left no doubt that Chris Drury, who has scored one goal since the first period of the season and has nine points (2-7) in 28 games while going minus-eight, will slot in as one of those top six.
“My responsibility right now is to really focus on getting our top players going,” said Tortorella, whose team has scored two goals or fewer in 15 of the last 19. “I want to get them into situa tions where they gain confidence.
“Chris is struggling tremendously, but he is very important to the club. When he relaxes, the game comes to him and he’s a different player.”
It’s not good year when the best thing to happen at Madison Square Garden during a New York Knicks game all season is a prank.
The New York Knicks have been coming up short all season (katchop)
If you aren’t already familiar with the “urban improv troupe” Improv Everywhere, well, why would you be? Nobody read Deadspin back in 2006 except Unsilent Majority and Will Leitch’s dad. And they just skimmed the Gawker site looking for pics of Agent Zero and Juan Encarnacion. True story. But I digress.
Similar to Improv Everywhere’s old prank at Yankee Stadium, Agent Lathan (a.k.a. “Rob”) recently pretended to get lost during a New York Knicks game. Throughout the second half “Rob” kept appearing further and further away from his assigned seat with a confused look on his face.
Naturally, Knicks fans went crazy trying to help him find his way back.
EA Sports is spinning off a new title from the popular Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 video game (katchop)
Sponsors like Gillette and Electronic Arts are going to drop Tiger Woods regardless of what they are saying now,” Ozanian wrote on Forbes.com. “Near term, Tiger is done as a corporate pitchman.”
Not so, according EA’s follow-up, which reinforced their commitment to the “Tiger Woods PGA Tour” series.
“There is no change in our marketing strategy for the franchise,” EA said in a statement to GameDaily. “Our strong relationship with Tiger for more than a decade remains unchanged.”
Places not as good as Katchop that you still might go to anyway:
