A24
FRIDAY, December 9, 2016
www.kamloopsthisweek.com
SPORTS
Romo bumped by rookie QB star
I
t famously happened to Wally Pipp in baseball. Now, about 90 years later, it looks like it might happen to Tony Romo in football. Pipp was the regular first baseman for the New York Yankees when, the story goes, a headache sidelined him one day. Taking his place was young slug-
BRUCE PENTON ger Lou Gehrig, who went on to play more
than 2,100 consecutive games over 14 seasons. Pipp was finished with the Yanks. His headache cost him his career. Fast forward to 2016. It was late August when Dallas Cowboys’ quarterback Romo injured his back in the Cowboys’ first pre-season game against Seattle. Now, it’s December, Romo’s back is healed, but
he is definitely the second-stringer thanks to the outstanding play of his replacement, Mississippi State grad Dak Prescott. To this point of the season, ‘America’s Team’ is the National Football League’s best team, thanks to the combination of the league’s top offensive line, the outstanding play of rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott,
and Prescott at QB. And Romo watches from the sidelines — ‘Pipped’, as it were — while Prescott continues to take snaps from centre and post victories for the Cowboys. Through the first few games of Prescott’s subbing at QB, it was without question that Romo would take over as soon as he was healthy. But as the Prescott wins
Give the Gift of Golf! Christmas is coming, and we hope you’re on course for a great holiday season! Rounds of Golf • 18 holes • 18 holes w/cart • 9 holes
3995 4995 2495
$ $ $
Driving Range Passes
6995 5495 3495
$ • 10 Large Baskets $ • 10 Medium Baskets $ • 10 Small Baskets
Rounds of golf are valid Monday-Thursday anytime, Friday-Sunday and holidays after 12pm. The passes are not valid with any other offers and are limited to 5 per person.
We also have loads of NEW ARRIVALS in our Pro Shop!
Bushnell Range Finders, Loudmouth, Puma, Sun Ice & 0 Spend $t1o0ck Travis Mathew, 2 UNDR Men’s on in s & receive e Underwear (Buy 3 get 1), is merchandFREE 1 US Kids Clubs & Accessories N GREE E L O H and lots more…. 18 E PASS E F
for 2017!
Kamloops’ #1 Golf Course 250-376-8020 PRO SHOP 376-3231 www.kamloopsgolfclub.com
mounted, calls for the Cowboys’ brass to leave the winning combination alone became louder. Finally, after the ‘Boys beat hometown Pittsburgh Steelers Nov. 13, team owner Jerry Jones made the call — Prescott was No. 1. The now-healthy Romo would be his backup. “We’ve got a great luxury, a wonderful problem to have,” Jones told Dan Graziano of ESPN. com. Later in the week, Romo himself held a press conference to admit that Prescott had earned the No. 1 job. So here’s how the situation has unfolded in Dallas. At the start of the season, the Cowboys had an injury-prone 36-year-old QB and either journeyman Kellen Moore or the untested rookie Prescott as No. 2. Now, they have a solid No. 1 in Prescott and an experienced and talented backup in Romo. The Seahawks might have something to say about it, but it’s easy to imagine the Cowboys representing the NFC in the Super Bowl in Houston on Feb. 2, with a rookie quarterback still at the wheel.
“QUOTE, UNQUOTE”
Headline at TheKicker.com: “Romo humbly steps aside, breaks ankle in the process.” • Rams defensive tackle Michael Brockers, to ESPN, on linemate Aaron Donald: “God built him to play D-tackle, man. He built a 6-1, 280-, 290-pound bowling ball with the strength of two men.” • Randy Turner of the Winnipeg Free Press, on Twitter: “Independence Day was a movie about aliens going from planet to planet sucking all resources. In a related story, the Coyotes are moving to Tempe.” • Field Yates of ESPN, via Twitter, after the Braves signed 43-yearold pitcher Bartolo Colon: “Colon made his MLB debut the day
Turner Field opened (in 1997). He’ll now pitch at the new Braves park. The dude outlasted a stadium.” • Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times: “And in the latest protest news, Buccaneers wideout Mike Evans took a knee during the national anthem Sunday, saying he’ll never stand as long as Donald Trump is president. Monday, it was revealed he didn’t even vote, and Tuesday he said he’ll be back to standing again. In other words, this receiver didn’t go long.” • Jack Finarelli, SportsCurmudgeon. com: “The Hula Bowl will be relocating to Raleigh, N.C. starting in 2018. I don’t know about you, but when I think of Raleigh, it takes me a while to fire enough synapses to get the image of ‘hula’ in my brain.” • Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle: “The Eagles cut wide receiver Josh Huff after he was stopped by New Jersey police, who say Huff was speeding, drunk, carrying marijuana, driving with illegally tinted windows and packing a handgun with no permit, loaded with illegal hollowpoint bullets. But his tires were properly inflated.” • RJ Currie of sportsdeke.com: “Many Americans reportedly want to move to Canada to flee a Donald Trump presidency. Coincidence? Michigan-born Jets holdout defenceman Jacob Trouba decided to stay in Winnipeg.” • Comedy writer Alex Kaseberg: “During their loss against Seattle, New England’s Rob Gronkowski was knocked woozy. When they held up three fingers and Gronk said, ‘Two,’ they knew he was OK.” Care to comment? Email brucepenton2003@yahoo.ca