Filed Under » Stuff You Might Have Heard

Panthers rookie guard Charles Dunne false started three teams in a single series last night in Carolina's preseason game against the Steelers, mistakes head coach John Fox attributed to his inexperience. "These are the kinds of growing pains a young player is going to go through," he said. "Although these were particularly egregious. I wouldn't call them rookie mistakes. Maybe freshman mistakes. But freshman in college, not in high school. They weren't that bad. I want him to start playing like a senior out there — high school or college; they don't make mistakes. Then the next step is playing like a veteran." Dunne, who was a three-year letter winner and team captain at Wisconsin, says he just misheard the snap count. "A few of the veterans did it, too."

As high schools and universities all over the country face budget shortfalls due to the economic crunch, many have been forced to make cutbacks in their athletic programs — a mandate that delights them. "I've been wanting to scrap our field hockey team for 20 years," said Bob Ratliff, athletics director at Schenkley Park High in Mankato, Minn. "Now that it's gone, I don't have to go to their games anymore and pretend I care." Other schools have found creative ways to work around the issue. "Our superintendent told me I had to trim the budget for football, basketball and baseball," said Keith Ritschel, athletics director at Lippman College in Illinois. "Instead I cut the art, drama and band departments. He loved it."

A small bluebird flew into the path of a pitch Philies reliever Jamie Moyer threw today during his bullpen session, instantly dropping the ball to the ground. "I've never seen anything like it," said catcher Paul Bako. "The bird came out of nowhere, then — BOOM! — its wing just knocked Jamie's pitch right out of the air. Then the bird fluttered there for a bit until it eventually flew away." Moyer said he wasn't at all surprised by the scene. "It's actually happened to me before," he said. "I worked on my accuracy as a kid by bouncing balls off butterflies."

After several of his recent promotional events and giveaways failed to pull in a big crowd, Cincinnati Reds promotions director Dale Patton says that the first 10,000 fans who come through the gates for tonight's game are going to get a piece of his mind. "Dammit! How can these people not come out for a Joey Votto bobblehead night?" Patton ranted. "Joey Votto is a star! A star! And Ladies Night? I don't think I saw any more ladies here than are here any other night? What the f—k, people?! And don't get me started on Hispanic Heritage Night. We had more Latinos on the field than in the stands." If Reds fans don't soon start showing more appreciation for his hard work, Patton says he is just going to quit and tell the team's management to use his salary to sign better players. "Let's see how they like watching a winning team without a free t-shirt. Then they'll be sorry."

Edgar Renteria's seventh inning walk-off grand slam put the Giants ahead of the Rockies yesterday, 6-5, but it wasn't enough to secure the victory as the team's subsequent celebratory exit from the field caused them to lose via forfeit. "I thought you could hit a walk-off home run at any point in the game as long as it was dramatic," said Giants manager Bruce Bochy. "And that one was as dramatic as they come. The league office needs to clarify the rules." Rockies reliever Rafael Betancourt, who surrendered Renteria's grand slam, took the win while seeing his ERA go up 19 points.

Despite their desire to take games one at a time, a scheduling error in their league is forcing Central Dallas High School in Dallas, Tex., to take games two at a time.

“I always stress to my players to take them one at a time, bring their A-game and give a total team effort,” said head coach Mike Desalves. “But because of some error with the league's scheduling program left us with two games every Friday night, we’re having to split the team up and take them two at a time. It’s really messed with my all-cliché coaching approach.”

Desalves says his team is handling the adversity well, however.

“They’re giving 110-percent,” he said. “They’ve stepped up and made plays.”

What two knowledgeable NFL people described earlier this week as a "substance" in the Minnesota Vikings mediaroom was described today by a third informed person as "jism."Sources with knowledge of the Vikings media room dynamics say some reporters believe the jism was secreted by media members who are still enamored with Vikings quarterback Brett Favre. While no media members would go on record about the source of the jism, they did say it will only increase if the quarterback plays well.

The New York Mets say they will ask general manager Omar Minaya to use the personal days they have saved up the past few years and just not come into work for the remainder of the season. "This is what those personal days are for, aren't they?" said second baseman Luis Castillo. "We are going through a tough time right now and I think it's best for everyone if we're just not here. And I say this with authority as one of our lone remaining uninjured veterans." But Minaya says it's unlikely he will allow the entire remainder of the team to take time off. "Do they think I want to be here any more than they do?" said Minaya. "If it was up to me, I would have been at the beach since June. But we are professionals, so we still have to show up every day. And I'm proud to say that while the Mets do very little else, they at least show up at the stadium every day."

Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts doubled last night in the third inning to score a run. But he wasn't quite as fortunate and became stranded at second — and eventually passed away. "You don't want to leave a runner behind," said Orioles manager Dave Trembley. "But there were already two outs when he got his hit, and we were in enemy territory here in Minnesota and — well, we will miss Brian." At the conclusion of the game, the Orioles ran out to second base to get Roberts, but it was too late. "He had starved to death. He was dehydrated. If only he hadn't been stranded early in the game, we could have saved him," said outfielder Nick Markakis. "I hope he died knowing we did everything we could to get him home. We've lost too many good teammates this way the past few years." Metrodome officials say they will replace the second base bag because a desperate Roberts tried to eat it and the bag is all gnawed up.

Fans holding brooms filled Kauffman Stadium for tonight's opener of a three-game series between the Royals and Indians. "I try not to be too negative, but the chances they don't get swept are pretty slim," said Royals season ticket holder Jeff Lamont. "So I wanted to bring a broom tonight for the first game of the series and get ahead of the curve." Only upon arriving at the park, Lamont saw many other fans had the same idea — including visiting Indians fans. "No, I brought my broom anticipating that we would get swept," said Indians fan Derek Heath. "What, are the Royals worse than the Indians? Really? Is that possible?"