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On killer bees, pizza and strategic use of magazines
summer day’s glance around the wide world of sports, which last appeared as a network TV show in 1998, and if that doesn’t make you feel old, we’re not sure what could: ■ Has anyone else noticed that if a swarm of killer bees approached that soccer stadium in South Africa, the fans would never hear it coming? ■ Last week’s Alameda/Contra Costa/ County All-Star Football Classic was, indeed, a classic. Contra Costa led at halftime 31-6, thanks in part to a couple of perfectly executed trick plays, and held on to win 31-26. Alameda County won the second half 20-0 — and we think we know one of the reasons why. At the start of the third quarter, with their team leading by 25 points, several Contra Costa players were seen flipping through the pages of the second issue of “SportStars.” You can’t blame them, it’s a pretty eye-catching publication. But, little by little, piece by piece, Alameda came roaring back. ■ No truth to the rumor: The magazines were placed on the Contra Costa bench by Alameda coach Jacob Wright. ■ We handed out right around 1,200 copies of our magazine at the game and the reaction was very encouraging. In fact, if you check out our Facebook page, you’ll see a nice picture of several people in the Contra Costa bleachers using our magazine to shield their eyes from the sun. ■ And that’s just a beginning. For next fall’s outdoor events, we’re working on a version that’ll keep the rain off your heads. ■ It really happened: Former Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell was arrested for possession of a controlled substance -- specifically, codeine cough syrup. ■ No truth to the rumor: Authorities considered dismissing the charges after finding out that every time Russell tried to throw down some cough syrup, he missed his target by 5 yards. ■ Pizza wars? Last issue’s “SportStar of the Week,” Kristian Ipsen, is the grandson of Skip Ipsen, owner and founder of Skipolini’s Pizza. Naturally, as part of the prize package awarded by our generous
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SportStars™
July 8, 2010
WALLY’S WORLD Mike Wolcott MikeW@ SportStarsMag.com (925) 566-8500 Ext. 109
sponsors, he received a gift certificate from (drumroll, please) Rocco’s Pizza in Walnut Creek. No word yet on whether he invited his grandpa. ■ The epic 11-hour, 5-minute match between John Isner of the United States and Nicolas Mahut of France captured the imagination of sports fans around the world -- and we’re talking fans of all ages. Dale Miller, tennis director at Valley Vista in Walnut Creek, enjoyed the reaction of some of his young students almost as much as the match itself. “We were running the summer tennis camps when we heard about it, and we brought all the kids in for a break, brought them to a TV and told them to watch it because they were watching history,” Miller said. The kids, most of them ages 9-12, were riveted. And, they came up with some perfectly logical questions. “One boy asked, ‘When do they go to the bathroom?’ “ Miller said. ■ This brings to mind images of Manny Ramirez mysteriously “disappearing” for a couple of minutes behind the Green Monster while playing left field one night at Fenway, but let’s leave that visual right there. ■ LeBron James is sitting at home this summer in anticipation of one suitor after another coming by to offer him hundreds of millions of dollars for a job. Note to LeBron: I tried that for an entire year once. Sorry, but it doesn’t work. ■ Favorite memory of the all-star football game: Sam Manuel, who was one of the famed Manuel twins (along with brother Sean) drafted by the 49ers in 1992, approached our “SportStars” booth, looking as big, strong and menacing as ever. He picked up a copy of our magazine, flipped through the pages and stared us in the eye. It was one of those “brace for impact” moments. “Man,” he said, shaking his head. “I sure wish we had something like this when I was a kid.” Whew. And it makes a good sunscreen, too.
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