
First, a correction. It turns out the Christmas Eve game between the Chargers and Raiders is NOT a monohued uniform game, an outrage by any definition, because the Raiders in black-on-black-on-black again is still the best idea ever.
And it’s not too far further along the “none of your damned business who the players are” road than the 49ers’ red-numbers-on-a-field-of-black motif. Which is, of course, stupid.
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And now the whispers have begun about Dwight Howard opting out of his contract because Houston isn’t, well, his thing any more. So over to Sam Amick of USA Today:
“As Howard makes his latest return to Los Angeles for a game against his old Lakers team Thursday, the noise that has followed him for so much of his career is back. Rumors are swirling the eight-time All-Star and three-time Defensive Player of the Year is unhappy (again), that he’s eyeing the exits (again), and that he’s not clicking with his superstar teammate (again). Except for one thing: Howard himself is emphatic that it’s all nonsense.
“I chose to go to Houston (via free agency in the summer of 2013), so why would I just say, ‘I’m not happy’ and leave?’ Howard, who is widely expected to become a free agent again this summer, (said). “I chose this place, you know what I'm saying? And I want to make this thing work here. Obviously we haven't been playing great basketball, and personally for myself my numbers don't seem like I've been playing great, but the only thing on my mind is trying to grow as a man and grow as a teammate and a leader. All the BS that's around, sometimes it is frustrating to hear it, because I know who I am as a man and I know what I'm trying to do for this city.”
On the other hand, if he can get a max deal under the next deal, his salary goes from $23.2M to $31M. Thus, he is at best 50/50.
News
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And who isn’t 50/50? WNBA star Elena Delle Donne on Gilbert Arenas’ analysis of the league and its absence of thong-and-bra uniforms.
Hey, she said it better than I could.
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Bill Kennedy, who announced he was gay after Rajon Rondo screamed it at him a couple of weeks ago and took his latest turn on the Infamy Wheel, was the crew chief in Oakland Wednesday night, and apparently nobody noticed enough to say anything to him.
So they say the best officials don’t get noticed? I say most of them don’t, which is why we need Joey Crawford back, and soon.
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Abby Wambach and Homare Sawa both retired from world class soccer Wednesday, and Twitter was replete with journalists thanking them for plying their trade for us to see.
That’s a little over the top, but Wambach gave us the quote that we should be thanking her for, in a Tweet she sent to the women who will follow her:
“Make them forget me.”
Name any three other public figures who have ever done that, and I’ll spot you the first part of the answer: Nobody says something that magnanimous on the way out, ever. So here’s to you, your greatness and your enduring character, Whoever You Are.
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And finally, if you want to make your death a special occasion for everyone, do it as a supporter of Huddersfield Town soccer team in Old Blighty.
In exchange for going room temperature (and $6,273 US), you can make your croakage memorable. According to the Huddersfield Daily Examiner, the club, in league with a local undertaker, provides either a blue and white coffin or a traditional coffin draped in a replica shirt that bears your name and preferred number (I think I’d go with 86, for obvious reasons). The club will also provide a bouquet of flowers while the team song, “Smile Awhile,” is played during the service. There is also a cremation option where your ashes are scattered at the stadium.
And if enough fans die quickly enough, maybe the club can afford to buy Lionel Messi. Hey, the club is only three points above the drop, but promotion to the Premier League is only a few ardent souls (in the most strident sense) and 17 spots away.