Caught on the Fly

Sporting News, The, Jan 1, 2001 by Bob Hille

Hey, didn't you used to be academically eligible for the bowl?

* Big diff in the Boys' locker room between time-killin' and team-killin' games-o-dominoes. Emmitt plays the former for chump change, Troy plays the latter with salcap consequences. If/when the QB retires, watch other longtime Valley Ranchers--Mark noski, Darren Woodson, Chad Hennings and Leon Lett, maybe Erik Williams--topple, too.

* Fly hears the Pacers' youth movement's knockin' noggins with Zeke, who's guardin' his coaching rep, man to man. Thomas has zero patience for Bender-n-Harrington, which means Rose, Miller-n-Best're loggin' ssserious M-I-Ns, the better to pad the W's. Playoff payback for a short(sighted) rotation: a Big Three runnin' on `E.'

* Prime 'vine Toronto's torn between dumpin' Boomer Wells for best offseason price or puh-rayin' that a Jay in the left hand's worth two in an inflated trade-deadline deal. The risk: a resumption in '01 of his second-half slide in '00.

* Speaking of Wells, watch-n-wait because Fly hears his high-maintenance personality can test even-the most patient skip. Buzz is he's headin' for Chez Shea. How's that fit with Bobby V systematically weed-whackin' clubhouse dandelions?

* The Spies say Hahs fans're duh-reamin' of new ownership and off-season unrestricted supe'star signin'. Sakic? Hull? LeClair? Dream on, Fly's amis (shaddup!)

* Fly's dream training camp comp: Cade McNown vs. Ryan Leaf (just don't expect a third 'mate in if a brawl breaks out).

* Buzz is A-ball M-G-R Lenny Dykstra's rep as, ahem, a night person (same rep that left him pressin' nose against Organized Ball glass until Cincy relented) is whisper du jour since his designated mentor, Russ Nixon, bolted for Pittsburgh. Reds' party line: We're not worried. Reds' party animal: Fly'll wait-n-see.

* Never mind No-guts insurrection. It's Denver fans, not players, who oughta be honked off at the Horse. Dan Issel's misguided front-office missiles: botched F.A. signings, low-return trades and ill-fated drafts. No wonder buzz is his job as coach is relatively safe for this season, not so as G.M.

* Step right up, Jim Donnan's replacement. Never mind his 39-19 mark and grad rate at UGa. Just put the booster-club bandwagon on shmooze control and do better (6-14) vs. Florida, Tennessee, Auburn and GaTech.

* Finally, no matter how unfair (How unfair? Really unfair) life in the Bungal Jungle's been for Akili Smith, the Spies say he's got at least one supporter. Fly hears '99 draft classmate Don McNabb's on Smith's caller I.D. multiple times, callin' to empathize. Pssst, no return calls from Cincy, though.

Buzz in for a daily dose-o-Fly at sportingnews.com.

DEFT SHOT

`When you pray before the game, you pray you don't get hit. You never know what's going to happen in Europe.'

Timberwolves rookie Marc Jackson, about playing in Turkey and Spain--where fans throw coins, stones and bottles at players.