A bad season got even worse for Bobby Valentine last week
A look at the winners and losers from the past week in the world of sports.
GOOD WEEK Floyd Mayweather refuses to put his reputation on the line by agreeing to a fight against Manny Pacquiao, but his bloated bank balance is certainly in play. After unconfirmed rumours that he gambled $3-million on last Saturday’s Michigan-Alabama game (can it really be called gambling, though, when you make roughly $40-million a fight?)Julie Jacobson/The Associated Press
Mayweather had no trouble dropping a $200,000 wager on the second half of Wednesday’s Giants-Cowboys NFL contest, winning a cool $181,818.20 in return. Wonder if he’s man enough to touch the record 70.5-point line in Saturday’s Florida State-Savannah State matchup?Nick Ut/The Associated Press
BAD WEEK With rumours swirling that Blue Jays manager John Farrell is set to return to Boston to take the same job with the Red Sox, the incumbent is hardly coating himself in glory. Already angry at the media after someone reported that he’d arrived late to the ballpark in Oakland one day, Bobby Valentine went on the offensive when radio station WEEI asked if he’d checked out on the season.STEVE NESIUS/Reuters
“What an embarrassing thing to say,” he said. “You know, if I was there I’d punch you right in the mouth,” instantly showing more fight than his 63-75 Red Sox.David Goldman/The Associated Press
BAD WEEK Peyton Manning, the Canton-bound quarterback, may be the answer to the prayers of most Broncos fans, but for one Colorado school district he’s created a nightmare. Owing to gang affiliations, schoolchildren in that district are forbidden from sporting jerseys with the numbers 13, 14, 18 or 31, 41 or 81.Jack Dempsey/The Associated Press
Of course, No. 18 just happens to be the digits that have been resplendent on Manning’s jersey throughout his legendary career, a jersey that has been the top seller on NFL.com since April.Jack Dempsey/The Associated Press
BAD WEEK Rajon Rondo is no stranger to dishing out assists on the court, the Celtics’ point guard is taking his talents to the media industry as a summer intern, and isn’t afraid to roll up his sleeves and pitch in. “I’m humble,” he said, no doubt prompting guffaws from half his NBA rivals and teammates.Mark Duncan/The Associated Press
“Anything GQ needs me to do – getting coffee – I’ll do. … It’s fun doing what I do, but it’s nice getting the flip-side of that 9 to 5.” Especially when you have the security of a five-year, $55-million NBA contract to cover the Starbucks run.Chiang Ying-ying/The Associated Press
BAD WEEK When did the Paralympics turn into Formula One racing? Oscar Pistorius, aka the “Blade Runner”, was in a sour mood after being beaten into second place in the 200-metre sprint, complaining that the blades of his Brazilian conqueror, Alan Oliveira, were too long and gave him an unfair advantage.SUZANNE PLUNKETT/Reuters
Guess Pistorius had better get in the wind tunnel to refine his aerodynamics. After all, what’s he going to do when someone starts adding traction control, active suspension and a turbocharger?SUZANNE PLUNKETT/Reuters