What Were They Thinking?

Hey Peeps and anyone else checking in. A special "Hey" goes out to Hazel Mae.

Again this week, I'm a day late with the Weird & Whacked Wednesday update - I had to set up my new computer. For those of you who have been here before you know what Wednesday entries are all about. For those of you who haven't been here before, Wednesday is the day when we look back at some of the more colourful and interesting events that have taken place over the last week or so in the world of sports. Some of the stories fall under the category of weird - where you wonder how this could happen; some of the stories fall under the category of whacked - where you wonder what they were thinking when they did this; and the truly outstanding newsmakers and their stories fall under the category of "just plain dumb" - where you don't even try to understand it. I will let you decide where each fits.


STAY IN SCHOOL
Former Ohio State RB Maurice Clarett really has himself in a world of trouble now. Clarett, who is already facing a charge of robbery, was arrested for carrying a concealed weapon(s) after a chase with police on Tuesday night. Clarett was found with four loaded weapons and body armour - who wears body armour while driving around? He had a half empty bottle of vodka for good measure. Clarett's bail has been set at $5 million.

File this one under "weird", "whacked" and "just plain dumb" - that's right ladies and gentlemen, Maurice is the first trifeta winner ever on this page. We need bullets for this one (no pun intended):

• Weird - he goes from being a star at Ohio State to an NFL bust, to an arena football player - what happened to this guy? Great quote from the team's owner Jim Terry "We gave him a chance and now we'll wait to see what happens. I've seen far worse situations that this." HUH? Think Jim Terry has been involved with the Bengals?
  
  
• Whacked - he is wearing body armour, carrying loaded weapons and drinking - but police also find a compact disc of children's songs recorded by Ohio prison inmates. I can't even begin to imagine what was going through this guy's head at the time.
  
  
• Just plain dumb - he is being chased by police and winds up a block away from the people he is alleged to have robbed. Go figure.

I think Maurice deserves a round of applause for this one.

FEELING MIGHTY LO-DUCA
New York Mets' catcher Paul Loduca made news this week as it was revealed that he was having an affair with a 19 year old university student in Long Island. So what you say? Baseball players do it all the time? Maybe...but how many of these guys are married to Playboy models? If that wasn't enough - it is alleged that Loduca is heavily in debt from gambling...speculation is that he is flat broke. Read the story.

File this one under "whacked" - the guy is carrying on an affair with a teenager in the biggest media market in the U.S. - telling her that he was not with his wife. He was not only dating her, he would go pick her up and chat with her parents. Need more convincing? He trusted a friggin teenage girl to keep her mouth shut (again, NO PUN INTENDED). The foul ball off the groin for Loduca? His teenage girlfriend was quoted as saying "He's fun - for an older man." For his part, Paul wants everyone to know that he loves his wife and is friends with her...and he wants to concentrate on playing baseball.


DON'T DRINK AND BOAT - EVEN IN KENTUCKY
For those of you keeping track - the Bengals are back out in front of the Chicago Bears in terms of player arrests, 5-4. Guard Eric Steinbach was charged with boating under the influence on the Ohio River - relatively tame in comparison to his teammates, but an offence nonetheless. He of course is pleading not guilty in this one. I'm waiting to hear Bengals' owner Mike Brown's speech about "standards" for his players.

File this one under "just plain dumb" - I've said it before; because of the actions of your teammates your entire team is under a microscope and you do something this stupid? There are just no words.

AT LEAST HE WASN'T DRUNK
Pittsburgh Steelers OL Barrett Brooks was charged this past weekend with fleeing from police. Brooks was on a motorcycle when being chased by police, and while he was not drunk - he wasn't wearing a helmet, which apparently isn't exactly against the law in Pennsylvania. Brooks claims it was a result of miscommunication and he will explain everything in court. Coach Cowher isn't buying it though.

File this one under "just plain dumb" - two words for Brooks - Ben Roethlisberger. Enough said.

JUST CALL MIKE
Seems like Bengals' owner Mike Brown has standards for his team AND his fans. Bengals' fans who are annoyed with bad behaviour of other fans in the stands can now use their cell phones and report any incident to the Bengals. The number to call is (513) 381-JERK - seriously. Bengals management is threatening to revoke season tickets from repeat offenders - and arrests for more serious offenders. I wonder if those bad-asses get a spot on the Bengals' practice roster.

File this one under "whacked" - your team is leading the league in arrests and you are going to deflect attention and heat by turning on your fans? I thought fans were an extension of their team? I can't believe the Bengals are serious about this - with any other team, I might understand - but given their off-season? Why not let fans report players' bad behaviour? This has to be a joke.

Well, that's about it for tonight. There were a few more stories I was going to highlight, but they were all about soccer in Europe - so maybe tomorrow or the weekend. I've got to get on over to the yahoo site to see what's up...Sox lost again to the Royals - so things could get a little heated.

Hazel, I hope things are groovy in your world.

Song of the night on Hazelspeeps - tonight's song has nothing to do with this entry. I'm going to get it from my man Drisc for a post on site tonight...so tonight's song, NOT for Drisc...but offered up as a funny explanation of sorts

Beautiful - James Blunt

Peesth Out...Buh Bye!