Morning Jolt: Dodger Stadium's worst showing ever
Tuesday, September 1
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Dodger Stadium's worst showing ever
Earlier this week, about 30 minutes before a Dodgers game, a picture of the near-empty stands at Dodger Stadium made the rounds on Twitter, and things got worse Wednesday. It's the smallest crowd I've seen in my 23 years of following the Dodgers. It might be the smallest crowd in the 49-year history of Dodger Stadium. The official attendance is 27,767, the second-lowest of the season, but that accounts for the number of tickets sold, not the number of actual people in seats. This is surely the worst. This is surely not even close. Eleven sections are completely vacant. Most of the pavilion sections are in single digits. The left-field corner section, previously known as Mannywood, is Deadwood, inhabited by precisely 20 people. (Los Angeles Times)Comment
The Eagles backup QB, Vince Young or Mike Kafka, may need to be on ready alert. Lately, the prevailing thought has been that coach Andy Reid won't call on the former Titans quarterback early in the season because Young isn't well-versed in the offense. While it's true that Young does not know the playbook as well as Kafka, it's been overstated how reluctant Reid would be to hand the offense to Young. If Vick were to get injured in September -- and it's not out of the realm of possibilities considering the Eagles offensive line -- Reid would look to his quarterbacks, and one thing would stand out: Young, 30 wins in 48 career starts; Kafka, zero wins in zero starts. Reid has yet to name his backup. (Philadelphia Inquirer)Comment
Pierce, Beasley drop from asthma attacks in China
Details coming out of China aren't always forthcoming, but a recent report indicates that Paul Pierce and Michael Beasley did play together on a team called the Kentucky Bisons. According to [a] report, [Beasley] and Pierce both suffered an asthma attack in Shuangyashan. "While playing in Shuangyashan, Heilongjiang province ... Pierce and Beasley both suffered asthma attacks due to large amounts of fans smoking cigarettes inside the stadium. After the game, things got even more shocking when Beasley fell to the floor in his hotel and started to roll around in obvious pain, scaring everyone around half-to-death. At that point, there was no choice but to dial 120 (the number for an ambulance in China) and take him to the hospital. (niubball.com)Comment
Must-See Photo
Padres right fielder Aaron Cunningham can't reach a ball hit for a double by Dodgers catcher Rod Barajas during the seventh inning of Wednesday's game. (AP)
Must-See Video
Andy Roddick hates on tennis analysts after Wednesday's first-round victory at the U.S. Open.
Game To Watch
Yankees at Red Sox, 7:10 p.m. ET, RSN/MASN2
SI Vault: Vault Headline
This Day in Sports
- 1906 -- Jack Coombs of the Philadelphia A's pitches 24 innings against the Boston Red Sox.
- 1988 -- Eight days after banning Pete Rose from baseball for life, commissioner Bart Giamatti dies of a heart attack on Martha's Vineyard, Mass.
- 2004 -- The sexual assault charge against Kobe Bryant is dropped after the victim decides not to participate.
