Maybe this will be the year for Justin Morneau.
By this time next year, perhaps the 30-year-old New Westminster, B.C., native will be holding a Major League Baseball trophy for comeback player of the year. It's not an award players like to be eligible for, because it means they've been to the depths but for Morneau, the Minnesota Twins first baseman, a comeback season is what he's praying for after two concussion-related campaigns that have threatened to end his career.
Starting in 2006, Morneau had four consecutive seasons where he drove in more than 100 runs for the Twins, blasting 118 home runs over that period and winning a Most Valuable Player award along the way.
Then it happened: A seemingly harmless play in July of 2010 when he slid into second base and had his head come into contact with the knee of John McDonald of the Blue Jays. Concussion symptoms developed and Morneau missed the rest of the 2010 season.
The next year, 2011, wasn't much better. Morneau suffered a recurrence of the concussion by merely diving for a ground ball and later underwent four surgeries - on his neck, left knee, right foot and, after the season, his left wrist. He played in only 69 games, batted. 227 - 50 points below his career average - and hit only four homers. Numbers like that usually earn a player a trip to the minors, or early retirement, but the Twins and Morneau are both hopeful he will return to his previous form in 2012.
With a return to good health, Morneau, who carries 233 pounds on his 6-foot-4 frame and wears No. 33 because, as a former hockey goalie, he idolized Patrick Roy, says he sees no reason why he can't put up numbers on the diamond like he did from 2006-09. "There's still a lot of time for me to become that player that I expect out of myself," he told an Associated Press reporter.
Morneau and the Twins are hoping that on offence in 2012, it will be more - now.
Comedy writer Jim Barach: "The Yankees are introducing his and hers fragrances. Apparently the team was going for a very expensive aroma, so the colognes are called 'Ballpark Hot Dog and Beer.'"
Budd Bailey of the Buffalo (N.Y.) News, on the secretive ways of Patriots coach Bill Belichick: "However, listing tight end Rob Gronkowski as questionable for the season opener in September probably is overdoing it."
Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle, after new Oakland Raiders coach Dennis Allen said the 2012 Raiders would be "a tough, smart, disciplined, committed football team": "My inner cynic is sure Allen believes all that stuff, but it's like when your five-year-old tells you he's going to be an astronaut. You smile and pat him on the head."
R.J. Currie of sportsdeke.com: "The Christian Science Monitor estimates eight in 10 NFL players are bankrupt two years into retirement. This is different than CFL players who are bankrupt two years into their careers."
Currie again: "CTV reports Saskatoon is still hoping to have a football team that will compete in the CFL. And so is Regina."
Steve Simmons of SunMedia: "A hockey quandary: "If his last name is Hainsey, what's his nickname?"
Elliotte Friedman of Hockey Night in Canada relates his favourite Mats Sundin story: "One year, the Maple Leafs were playing in Florida on St. Patrick's Day. After the game, the team wanted to celebrate, so the bus pulled up at an Irish pub. Bouncer: "Sorry, we're full." Sundin pulled out $500. Bouncer: "Plenty of room for you!"
Comedy writer Gary Bachman: "A woman is suing NYC for a staggering $900 trillion for what she calls 'over three years of horror, grievous harm, and time lost.' It's been a rough few years for Mets season ticket holders."
Another one from Currie: "Word out of Carolina is the Hurricanes will deal forward Tuomo Ruutu before the trade deadline. Or maybe it's a ruumouur."
ABC's Jimmy Kimmel, on the appeal of the Westminster Dog Show: "It combines the excitement of people walking dogs to the thrill of dogs sitting perfectly still."
Tom Cuddy of Boston's WBZ Radio, on the Archdiocese of Montreal buying newspaper ads encouraging parishioners to ask God to help the last-place Canadiens: "At least they're in the prayoffs."
Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times: "Police in Ashland, Mass., arrested a man for an unusual case of road rage - throwing a handful of pennies through the window and sunroof of a car stopped next to him at a stop light. Paul P. Castelli, 42, has been charged with assault and battery, property destruction, and impersonating a Kansas City Royals GM."
Janice Hough of leftcoastsportsbabe.com: "Tim Wakefield, 45, says he is retiring. Responded Jamie Moyer - "So young?" And T.C. Chong also weighed in on the former Boston Red Sox knuckleball pitcher, saying "Massachusetts will honour Wakefield by reducing highway speed limits to 48 mph that day in tribute to his fastball speed."
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