9/11 tributes come in all shapes, sizes
As America prepares to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of 9/11 on Sunday, the nation's sports leagues are doing what they can to honor the victims and those touched by the tragedy.
The NFL's first Sunday falls on the anniversary and includes the Jets hosting a game and the Giants traveling to Washington to play the Redskins near the site of the attack at the Pentagon. Tributes are planned across the NFL.
Arizona will host a game and honor former Cardinals safety Pat Tillman, who left the team after 9/11 for the military and was killed in action.
The league has said players won't be fined for wearing red, white and blue gloves and shoes in violation of the uniform code.
Baseball, which helped heal America's wounds after the tragedy 10 years ago, will see tributes at stadiums across the country.
NASCAR chose to remember 9/11 by getting someone from New Jersey, a state greatly affected by the loss of lives in the attacks, to wave the green flag at the Wonderful Pistachios 500 in Richmond, Va., on Saturday night.
Well, at least someone who spends summers on the "Jersey Shore."
Yes, Snooki was supposed to signal the start of the race.
Fortunately, it was announced Friday that Snooki would pass off the duty to Frank Siller, the brother of a firefighter lost on 9/11 and the founder of the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
Even though the pick of Snooki was a sponsor decision (she endorses Wonderful Pistachios), it shouldn't have taken so long to make the call to relieve her of her duties on such a somber weekend.
Having her participate would have been like having Godzilla throw out the first pitch in the Japanese baseball league on the anniversary of the March 11 tsunami.
■ BIG 12 COMMANDMENTS -- A new voice has weighed in on the brewing controversy between Baylor and Texas A&M, a photo of a billboard circulating the Internet suggests.
"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's conference deal -- God," reads a sign tweeted by Houston Chronicle columnist Richard Justice.
While pictures of these billboards often are photoshopped and not put up anywhere, the point is not lost.
Baylor, a Christian school, has threatened to sue if Texas A&M follows through on plans to leave the Big 12 for the Southeastern Conference.
It might take more than divine intervention to save the Big 12. Even He doesn't have the Longhorn Network's power.
■ NOT-SO-PERFECT LANDING -- U.S. Olympic gymnastics champion Paul Hamm was arrested outside Columbus, Ohio, a week ago on charges of failing to pay a $23 cab fare, damaging the taxi's window and kicking and hitting the driver.
Hamm, who on Friday was fired from his post as an assistant gymnastics coach at Ohio State, told police he had about eight drinks before telling the officers he was "going to kill (them)."
WBNS-TV in Columbus reported Hamm accidentally locked his door in the back of the cab and was trying to get out through the window.
Fortunately for Hamm, escaping through cab windows was not part of the Olympic program in 2004.
COMPILED BY ADAM HILL
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
