Friday Fryer (October 13, 2006)
by user Christof
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a look at the sports week's biggest losers
by Christof
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Welcome to another fun loving edition of the Friday Fryer, where we take a look at who was the sports' world's biggest idiot this week. This week’s winner may be controversial to some. Nonetheless, without further ado, let's go take at our three finalists and, of course, the person being dipped into the Fryer on this Friday the 13th....
THE FINALISTS
| Lawrence Philips
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| The first nominee for this week’s Chair is Lawrence Phillips. In the Year of the Arrested Player, many wondered if Mr. Philips would be mentioned. This is because many of discretions were from years ago. Well, the key word in that last sentence is “many.”
Mr. Philips was convicted this week of seven counts of assault with a deadly weapon. The deadly weapon was his car, which he used to drive over a group of young men. From news reports, at least three people from this group were injured during this drive-by (or maybe drive-over?).
It gets better, for Philips’ motive for this attack was to seek revenge for his team losing a pick-up game to this group of guys. Yes, this guy has fallen so far that he cannot beat a bunch of guys in a game of pick-up football in LA.
One can only wonder what would happen if Philips were the cell-mate of Maurice Claurett. Oh what a backside, er, backfield that would make!
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| Terrell Owens
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| The next finalist for the Friday Fryer Chair is another old friend, Terrell Owens. Mr. T.O. gets this nomination not for his three catch for 45 yards performance in the Dallas Cowboys game versus the Philadelphia Eagles. Mr. T.O. gets it for his comments after the game and during the week. “Why the $%* am I here?” Dude, that is a question any football fan is asking to themselves whenever your name is mentioned. It gets better, for T.O. admitted that he is “frustrated” with how things are going for Dallas.
For the San Francisco 49ers and Eagles fans out there, it must be fun watching this train wreck in process. We all know how this is going to end: with the QB thrown under the bus, a divided locker room, and a losing record. For the Cowboys fans out there, do not worry, for when Mr. T.O. fully blows, he will get the Chair in the Friday Fryer!
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| Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres
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| Our next finalist is a tag-team: the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres. These two NL West teams made the National League playoffs only to go a combined 1-6. Now, this 1-6 mark would not be bad if they were facing any of the American League playoff teams. But the Padres faced the St. Louis Cardinals who literally backed into the playoffs. The Cards quit playing well back at the trading deadline. It was pathetic for the Padres to lose the Cards in 4.
The Dodgers faced the New York Mets, who is the best team in a very bad NL. However, the Mets were missing Pedro and El Duque. And the Dodgers were not even competitive in any game in this series.
The Dodgers and Padres nearly earned the Chair award this week. But then I realized that the Philadelphia Phillies could not beat out either of those teams to make the playoffs. At that point, I just raised the white flag. And now onto the winner of this week’ Chair.
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AND THE LOSER IS . . .
| Cory Lidle
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| The winner this week will likely cause some controversy, for it is none other than Cory Lidle. Mr. Lidle, may he rest in peace, was the pilot of the airplane that slammed into that New York condo complex on Wednesday. Mr. Lidle was also an MLB pitcher, most recently with the New York Yankees.
Mr. Lidle gets the Chair not for crashing, but for being arrogant about flying. Reading the news stories, it is quite clear that Lidle was quite cocky about flying and about his piloting skills. What is the end result of this cockiness? Well, Lidle along with his pilot teacher are dead, his wife is a young widow, and his 6-year-old son is now going to grow up without his dad.
This brings me to my last comment. Warren Buffet, the second richest man in the world, speaks often about staying within your sphere of competence. Now, Buffet usually only speaks of this term in the investment arena, but, this concept can be extended to any facet of life. Staying within your sphere of competence means doing only things that you truly know or understand. It means taking a conservative approach, not overextending yourself to things you really do not understand. It also means not being cocky about anything. It is like standing up at the plate, within a strike count, and waiting for that fat fastball to hit into the bleachers in right.
Sadly, Cory did not follow this. Until next Friday, AMF!
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