HOH Sports Desk Round-Up!
HOH Sports Desk is often awash in sporty anecdotes. This week is a perfect example of some of the ridiculousness that crosses our desk.
Swim It if You Got It!
At 10:30 a.m. today, Virginia Rep. Jim Moran (D) kicked off the “world’s largest swimming lesson” at the Upton Hill Regional Park in Arlington.
According to his office, the Congressman and U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Chairwoman Inez Tenenbaum took a dip as “part of a worldwide simultaneous event [that] educates children and their parents on the importance of water safety.”
Please send pictures of Moran in his bathing suit to HOH [at] RollCall.com. Many thanks!
Ex-Boxer Turned Pundit By Way of Senate Majority Leader
Senate Majority Leader — and former chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission — Harry Reid (D-Nev.) weighed in on last weekend’s controversial boxing match between his buddy Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley.
Last Saturday, Philippines Congressman Pacquiao took on Bradley for the welterweight championship. The fight ended in a split decision, and the judges decided in favor of Bradley for the title. The Associated Press and others, however, scored the fight in favor of Pacquiao.
“As an accomplished boxer yourself, what did you make of this fight?” asked Fox News’ Griff Jenkins.
“I was disappointed the fight turned out the way it did,” Reid replied. “I am a big Pacquiao fan. It’s been a troubling few days for me. [Boxing promoter] Bob Arum is a very close friend of mine. The judge, [Duane Ford], who was one of the judges that ruled a way that no one thinks the fight turned out, really is upsetting to me. I like [Duane], I like Bob, of course, the champ I like.”
Then Reid, ever the negotiator, continued: “But, you know, [I have] fought a few times, I judged lots and lots of fights. Judging a fight is not an exact science, like a math. … But it appears this wasn’t even close.”
Reid has endorsed an investigation.
He Spoke Too Soon
Rep. Ed Markey is a big Boston Celtics fan.
Last week, the Massachusetts Democrat took part in some good-natured smack talking.
“I rise to thank [Rep. Dan Boren (D-Okla.)] for his vote. I know that it is in celebration of the Oklahoma City Thunder — formerly the Seattle Supersonics, which — because of the natural gas boom in Oklahoma and Chesapeake Natural Gas’ ownership of the team — took it to Oklahoma,” Markey said, taking the opportunity to take a small dig at House Natural Resources Chairman Doc Hastings (R-Wash.) and the thousands of bereft Sonics fans in Washington state.
He then went on to claim that because the Celtics would beat the Miami Heat, it would be the last time Oklahoma would support anything Boston would want for a long time.
The Heat, of course, beat the Celtics after forcing a seventh game. The team is currently facing the Thunder in the finals, with Game 2 tonight. The Thunder lead the series, 1-0.
For his part, Markey perhaps can use his powers of prediction to be a political pundit, meteorologist, astrologist or general soothsayer.