Digest

The fan page

By TIMES WIRES
Published November 8, 2006

Our rant

Tonight's Lightning-Penguins game should be on Sun Sports. It isn't.

Instead, Sun Sports is showing the Orlando Magic game against the Seattle SuperSonics. If we really wanted to see this game, we would sit in I-4 traffic and buy a ticket since the game is in Orlando.

But we can't drive to Pittsburgh and we can't see a Penguins team with two of the most exciting young players in hockey: Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

The Lightning is opening its XO VIP Club at 5:30 and showing the game on its televisions. But it would sure be nice to sit on our own couch. We realize Sun Sports has a lot of juggling to do and if tonight's game had been shown, another would have to be dropped.

Still, we would rather watch tonight's than one of the 412 games against Carolina or Atlanta. And we would rather watch Lightning vs. Penguins than the Magic vs. Sonics.

Other voices

Here's what Tennessee football coach Phillip Fulmer said when three of his players all 20 years old were arrested outside a club at 3 in the morning Sunday and charged with disorderly conduct and underage consumption of alcohol.

"Their behavior is an example ... (of) when immature male ego mixes with alcohol and stupidity."

Here's what Fulmer did. He suspended safety Antonio Waldrow, who was also charged with public intoxication, for two games and fullback David Holbert for one game. Starting tailback (notice the word starting) Arian Foster was suspended for only the first half of Saturday's game vs. Arkansas.

Joe Biddle, columnist for the Tennesseean, sarcastically called Fulmer "The Hanging Judge." Here is an excerpt:

Fulmer has to look at the bigger picture. Lose to Arkansas and get your third loss, and Vols fans will be stuck in Shreveport for the holidays.

Fulmer has to protect the integrity of the program, and while he's at it, the Vols' won-lost record.

Keep Foster from running through the 'T' for the next home game. Make dessert off limits at the training table. But whatever you do, Hanging Judge, don't keep him from playing the first half against Arkansas.

I'm curious how Fulmer handed down three different suspensions. Were they not all under age? Were they not all drinking? Did Foster not drink as much as Holbert?

Sportsrant

It drives me crazy when ... I see Bruce Gradkowski scrambling in the backfield, looking for an open receiver. He looks like an eighth-grader at a high school game.

Roger White, Dunedin.

Second-biggest breakup of the day

Golfer/walking train wreck John Daly and his wife have filed for divorce, four months after she finished serving a federal sentence involving finances from what authorities said was a drug and gambling ring. Sherrie Miller Daly filed for divorce Oct. 17 and Daly filed a day later. The breakup of the day was just across the trailer park at Britney's house.

Item of the day

The NHL is experimenting with a whistle similar to one used in the NBA. We're not that good with science stuff, but apparently the whistle is connected to the clock, so the clock stops automatically when the whistle blows. But the whistle makes a slightly different sound, so players are still getting used to it. If it all works out, the whistle could be used full time.

[Last modified November 8, 2006, 02:26:17]