Ever seen a grown man cry because his favourite team lost a playoff game and his favourite player was the goat? And ever see a grown man’s tears turn into icicles?
Well, sources swear all of the above happened Sunday evening to Eric Hinske, the former Blue Jay who lives near Green Bay and is a lifelong fan of the Packers. Hinske was at the Pack’s 23-20 overtime loss to the New York Giants in Sunday’s NFC final and I’m told that, when the quarterback he worships, Brett Favre, threw an interception that led to the Giants’ game-winning field goal, tears literally streamed down the baseball player’s face. It was so cold that, I’m told, those tears became icy and wound up being picked off his face.
Hinske might shed tears of joy this week. I hear he’s on the verge of signing a contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. After stints with the Oakland A’s, the Jays and the Boston Red Sox, Arizona will be Hinske’s first NL team. The Sox intend to replace Hinske with ex-Expo Brad Wilkerson as their main left-handed bat off the bench.
•The chap who booted the Giants’ winning field goal, by the way, is quite accustomed to the cold. Lawrence Tynes used to kick for the Ottawa Renegades … Don’t be surprised, incidentally, if Mike Vanderjagt, signs with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers as Troy Westwood’s replacement … New England is a heavy favourite — by 12.5 points — to beat the Giants in the Super Bowl, but keep in mind that the Patriots have failed to cover the spread in their past five games while the Giants haven’t lost a road game in months. In their regular-season finale, when both teams used their starters all game, the Giants covered the spread against the Pats, losing 38-35.
•Now we hear the Maple Leafs will rehire Cliff Fletcher within the next 48 hours, but as a senior advisor to general manager John Ferguson Jr., who may not be fired. Yet … We also understand Peter Forsberg will return to the NHL fairly soon with either Colorado or Philadelphia.
•And what’s this we’re hearing about the Raptors planning a pitch in a bid to reacquire their former star, Damon Stoudamire?
The Memphis Grizzlies have approached the guard about a buyout, but his preference is to join the Boston Celtics rather than return to Toronto.
In three-plus decades as a columnist and broadcaster, Marty York has built a network of solid contacts and a renowned reputation for his hard-hitting, groundbreaking style. The tradition continues in Metro Sports.
