He has been busy fining coaches for cheating and suspending players for killing dogs and breaking other laws but, somehow, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell found time to deal with cheerleaders.
Yep, the young ladies had better watch themselves. They’ve been warned.
Goodell has sent out a memo to every NFL cheerleading squad, ordering them to refrain from stretching in front of visiting locker rooms.
I kid you not. Goodell said he received complaints about players being distracted by stretching cheerleaders.
• I wouldn’t blame CFL referees if they skip some baths. After all, they’re spending so much time in hot water these days.
The Stampeders have complained to the CFL that the zebras missed what they considered a flagrant late hit late in Calgary’s loss to Hamilton the other night. The hit, by the Tiger-Cats’ Zeke Moreno, damaged Henry Burris’ shoulder and the talented quarterback may miss the rest of the season.
In Saskatchewan, meanwhile, there was excessive violence after a play by a couple B.C. Lions’ offensive linemen — yet again — but neither Rob Murphy nor Sherko Haji-Rasouli was ejected. Somehow, receiver Cory Rodgers was, even though he did little.
Roughriders general manager Eric Tillman was fuming at Wally Buono, the Lions’ GM/coach.
“Being Sir Wally doesn’t mean the rules don’t apply to you or your team,” Tillman said. “When offensive linemen continue to cross the line of acceptable standards, which they have done over and over in the past couple of years, it’s really pretty simple: Either the coach encourages this type of excessive violence, or he condones it, via turning a blind eye, and neither is acceptable.”
Does Haji-Rasouli expect to hear from the league?
“Yeah,” he said. “I hope they send me a bonus for good entertainment.”
• With Burris gone, Casey Printers likely out with a hamstring injury, Dave Dickenson trying to recover from a concussion and Anthony Calvillo not playing because of a shoulder injury, four of the CFL’s highest-paid QBs are conspicuous by their absences.
“I’d say it’s a long shot for us to win without Anthony,” Montreal Alouettes’ Anwar Stewart admitted. “He’s the captain of the ship. When he’s here, the ship runs.”
• Home-run king Barry Bonds, who hopes to extend his career next season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, likely will play his final game as a Giant in San Francisco tomorrow night and, sources tell us, there are unique plans to honour him.
If he approves, the Giants will start him in left field and remove him after one pitch so he can receive a standing ovation.
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.
