Extra Innings
Twins broadcaster Bert Blyleven was suspended earlier this week for using an obscenity on TV Sunday, according to the Star Tribune. Blyleven caught this viewer’s attention on Saturday’s FSN pre-game show. While Jim Souhan was providing insights about the Twins, Blyleven, who wasn’t supposed to be in the picture, interrupted a few times including making a peace or victory sign above Souhan’s head.
Randy Moss ranks No. 1 in pro football jersey sales to men, according to the NFL. Among women, though, he ranks No. 9. Donovan McNabb is No. 1 with women while Ben Roethlisberger is second among both men and women. McNabb is No. 10 among men while Brett Favre, No. 2 with women, isn’t even on the top 10 men’s list.
Viking coach Brad Childress talking about the Redskins’ FedExField, the NFL’s largest stadium and perhaps the loudest: “Your job is to make them sit on their hands.”
Twins manager Ron Gardenhire on fickle followers: “We call people Mr. Goin’ Good. When everything is going good they sure like to ride that wagon. But if it gets a little bumpy a lot of them like to jump off. We just ask you to stay on it and we will be okay.”
Gardenhire talking about the Detroit Tigers who visit the Metrodome for a four game series starting tomorrow: “They are not going to fade away. That’s a great team. They have been there all year. It’s going to all depend on how their pitching staff goes along here in September as to how they finish. Just like everybody else.”
Torri Hunter, who had 23 home runs, 71 RBI and a .269 average earlier in the week, thinks he can finish the season with 30 home runs, 90 RBI, and a.280 average. While those are his goals, he said “for me it’s all about getting to the playoffs and even winning the World Series.”
Former Twins batting champion Tony Oliva hopes to visit his native Cuba next winter. He still has sisters and brothers living there, plus close to 100 other relatives.
Redskins’ coach Joe Gibbs quoted in the August 28 Washington Times on the team’s terrible performance in pre-season: “We’ve been in messes before and we understand how to get out of them,” Gibbs said yesterday at Redskin Park. “We’re in a tough time right now and when you go through tough times, it’s always interesting to see how you get out of it.”
John Gordon, Twins play-by-player announcer, said on a recent WCCO broadcast that Jim Kaat will retire from broadcasting New York Yankee games after this season. Kaat, a former Twins broadcaster and the team’s all-time pitching leader in career wins, plans to travel the country with his wife and visit family, Gordon said.