Fred Bowen's "The Score" column,
Friday, January 21, 2005, Washington Post

A Little of This . . . a Little of That

There is so much sports stuff to talk about this week I can't write about just one thing. So let's get started.

• Hurray for Matt Leinart! The Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback from the University of Southern California decided to stay in school another year instead of going to the pros. Leinart said he was turning down (for now) the millions he could make in the National Football League because he was having so much fun playing for USC. He is a good reminder for kids (and their parents and coaches) that sports are supposed to be fun.

• Cheers for Michelle Kwan, too. She just won the U.S. championship in singles figure skating for the ninth time. Some folks make a big deal out of Kwan not winning an Olympic gold medal. But it's harder to stay on top for a long time like Kwan has than it is to skate one great performance in the Olympics.

• Don't you wish that the judges at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships taught at your school? They handed out a record 28 perfect 6.0 scores in Portland, Oregon, last week. That's like getting an A++. I'm always amazed at the spins and leaps that figure skaters can do, but were so many skaters really perfect? I thought nobody is perfect.

• Well, maybe Roger Federer is perfect. He's the top men's tennis player in the world. Federer won 11 tournaments last year, including three Grand Slam titles, and he likely will win the Australian Open again next weekend. Seems like you don't hear much about Federer, maybe because he doesn't scream at referees, make fun of his opponents or do crazy stuff that makes the news. He just plays beautiful tennis and wins.

• That brings me to Randy Moss. I'm glad that the Minnesota Vikings and their star receiver are out of the NFL playoffs. I got tired of everybody wondering whether Moss would walk off the field again while his teammates were still playing or shake his bottom at fans after scoring a touchdown. Moss is a terrific player but he doesn't seem to be a very good teammate. And he certainly is not a good example.

• What about Doug Mientkiewicz? He's the first baseman for the Boston Red Sox who happened to catch the last out in the 2004 World Series. Now he wants to keep the ball or possibly sell it to pay for his kids' college education. Gee, I know college can be expensive, but Mientkiewicz made about $3 million last year. I think he should give the ball to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. It could be displayed next to the bloody sock that Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling wore in that World Series. That's right, Schilling says he is going to donate his famous bloody (and probably smelly!) sock to the Hall of Fame.

• Finally, I think the Patriots and the Falcons will win Sunday and meet in Super Bowl XXXIX (that's 39 for you non-Roman-numerals kids).

I told you there was a lot to talk about.