THE MASHUP | SPORTS AND POP CULTURE COLLIDE
Giants defensive lineman Michael Strahan is such a sensitive guy
By GREG MOORE
The Kansas City Star
N FL players aren’t known for being sensitive and compassionate to upcoming playoff opponents.
But Giants defensive lineman Michael Strahan was when he stood up for Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo on Thursday. Strahan, according to the Associated Press, said the vacation that Romo took with Jessica Simpson in Mexico earlier this week won’t affect Romo’s play Sunday.
Strahan is right, by the way. Who isn’t a little better at their job after taking a short vacation?
Strahan also spoke for single men everywhere when he dropped the quote of the year: “Heck, if Jessica Simpson wanted to date me, I may give her a shot.”
Watch out, Tony, the guess here is that Strahan isn’t going to be nearly as sensitive or compassionate if he gets a shot at you Sunday in Dallas.
Rising
•Bill Walton, the NBA Hall-of-Famer turned hyperbole-prone announcer, is the campaign chairman for Oregon secretary of state candidate Rick Metsger, the Oregonian reported on its Web site Thursday.
“Sports and politics share many similarities,” Walton said in a statement. “True winners are those who can inspire and lead others to be their very best. Rick is that kind of leader."
But what Walton probably wanted to say in the statement was this: “In my opinion, quite simply put, Rick Metsger is undoubtably going to be the most amazing secretary of state that the wonderful people of Oregon have ever had the unique and heretofore unfathomable pleasure and sheer joy of electing.”
•Lewis Hamilton, the Formula One driver, turned 23 on Monday. His race team, McLaren-Mercedes, unveiled its new car the same day, the Associated Press reported. So, he got a new ride for his birthday, he’s been seen recently with supermodel Naomi Campbell and R&B diva Ciara, he’s got a book out, and he was nominated by the BBC for sports personality of the year.
Slipping
• Kelly Tilghman, the Golf Channel anchor who said to stop Tiger Woods other golfers should “lynch him in a back alley,” might not be a moron, but she played one on TV. Tilghman apologized. The network suspended her for two weeks. And Woods, through his agent, brushed off the controversy as a “nonissue.”
Maybe it wasn’t an issue to Woods, but it’s not OK to use that word in that context without considering exactly what it means. The historical implications of lynching are not now, nor have they ever been, something to joke about.
Bet she wishes she could have a do-over on that moment. But it’s like any skydiver will tell you — you can’t get back on the plane once you’ve begun to yell Geronimo.
| To reach Greg Moore, send e-mail to gmoore@kcstar.com
