Wake-up call: Texas, Brad Lidge, Jason LaBarbera
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First things first: Despite the photo above, the Phillies come in the No. 2 spot this morning. Nothing beats Texas right now. That’s right, Texas. First in so many ways I suppose. But most important, it’s the No. 1 team in college football and it takes on No. 7 Texas Tech on Saturday at 5 p.m. on Channel 7. And No. 4 Oklahoma plays Nebraska at the same time but on ESPN. As our sports media columnist Diane Pucin pointed out, this is a get-your-remotes-ready day. These two games will feature the nation’s top three quarterbacks, all Heisman Trophy candidates.
Parade’s passing by: It was Phillies on parade today, as the World Series champs celebrated in downtown Philadelphia. The whole city was ready for it, too. About a million people lined Broad and Market streets. Relief pitcher Brad Lidge was on the Dan Patrick show this morning and agreed that after a perfect 48-for-48 in save opportunities and now a World Series ring coming his way, maybe it’s all downhill from here. Lidge didn’t seem worried though, except he admitted he is still sore from having been on the bottom of the celebratory pile Wednesday night on the mound. He said he was wearing a neck brace as a result. I’m pretty sure he was joking.
Playing without a net: OK, maybe for the Kings, it carries a different meaning right now -- as in net-minder. Goaltender Jason LaBarbera has had a handful of awful games and they’ve only played nine. He has a depressingly fat 3.01 goals-against average and a lowly save percentage of .889 (next to last in the league). He had a horrible time in net last night, letting the fourth goal right through his pads. It was horrible watching it in slow motion. LaBarbera couldn’t react fast enough and seemed slower than the slow motion. In 2006, the Kings pursued Roberto Luongo, who had the shutout last night for the Canucks. Remember? The Kings discussed a multi-player package, with Alexander Frolov, Dustin Brown and Mathieu Garon (remember him?) among the names bandied about. GM Dean Lombardi wasn’t able to do a deal and so the Kings sit, still in need of an NHL caliber goalie.
-- Debbie Goffa
Top photo: The doors to a church are decorated with banners before the Phillies’ parade. Credit: Mel Evans / Associated Press
Inset: Texas Tech students play video games outside Jones AT&T Stadium on Thursday, where they have been camping out in hopes of being one of the 12,000 students allowed in the stadium for Saturday’s game. Credit: Geoffrey McAllister / Lubbock Avalanche-Journal / Associated Press