Welcome to Friday’s Morning Mashup. For the latest news, start at our WEEI.com home page or click here for the top stories from our news wire.
WHAT’S HAPPENING LOCALLY FRIDAY:
No games scheduled
SATURDAY:
NHL: Lightning at Bruins, 7 p.m. (NESN)
MLS: Earthquakes at Revolution, 7:30 p.m. (CSNNE)
SUNDAY:
NFL: Jets at Patriots, 4:15 p.m. (CBS)
AROUND THE WEB:
♦ Following comments from University of Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari that were dismissive of Rick Pitino‘s Louisville program, Pitino responded in an interview with CBS Sports‘ Jeff Goodman. “Four things I’ve learned in my 59 years about people,” Pitino said. “I ignore the jealous, I ignore the malicious, I ignore the ignorant and I ignore the paranoid.”
Added Pitino: “If the shoe fits anyone, wear it.”
♦ Eagles defensive end Jason Babin was fined $15,000 for a hit on 49ers quarterback Alex Smith, and he isn’t happy about it. Tweeted Babin: Attn:Guy at the NFL that decides on who and how much players get fined Stop being a puppet, if you want to protect QB’s, get better linemen. Asked about the tweet, Babin said: “That was just meant to be sarcastic. But my main point was the person that decides the fines — I’m assuming they’re supposed to be unbiased and make decisions for themselves according to the rules and regulations — not let outside influences affect their decision-making. You know what they say, ‘One man with courage is a majority.’ ”
Meanwhile, Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey was fined $7,500 for an unnecessary roughness penalty, but he insists his offending hit came before the whistle. Stated Pouncey: “I’m not changing how I play.”
♦ The University of Alabama fan who is accused of poisoning trees at Auburn might once again be looking for a new attorney. Harvey Updyke Jr. went against his counsel’s advice and recently called in to a radio show to apologize “for all the damage I have done,” leading to attorney Glennon Threatt asking the court for permission to be the fourth lawyer to withdraw from the case. Said Threatt: “He needs somebody he will trust, and he needs somebody he will listen to.”
ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: The seventh of October has not been a successful day for the Red Sox throughout the years. On this date, they lost World Series games in 1946 and 1967, and playoff games in 1986, 1990, 1999 and 2005. They did have one big victory on Oct. 7, when in 1975 they beat the A’s, 5-3, to sweep the three-game ALCS. Who was Boston’s winning pitcher?
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “That was a special moment. It was another one to add to the memory bank that you’ll remember forever. While it was happening, I was picturing myself coming back and visiting for a game 30 years from now and looking at that banner and saying, ‘We helped raise that banner.’ ” – Bruins goalie Tim Thomas, on Thursday night’s banner-raising ceremony
STAT OF THE DAY: 2 — Hits (in 18 at-bats) for Alex Rodriguez in the Yankees’ ALDS loss to the Tigers, which ended with a 3-2 decision Thursday night as A-Rod went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts
‘NET RESULTS: As part of a promotion for Head & Shoulders shampoo, Steelers safety Troy Polamalu pretends he’s a wax figure at Madame Tussauds wax museum in Hollywood before coming alive to scare unsuspecting patrons.
NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace lets a blind man drive him in a lap around Charlotte Motor Speedway.
TRIVIA ANSWER: Rick Wise
SOOTHING SOUNDS: Damian Kulash, lead singer for OK Go, turns 36 Friday.
