Athlon-Sports-July-2015i

ANSWERS TO THE PERPLEXING, PECULIAR AND PROBLEMATIC SPORTS QUERIES
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AthlonSports @AthlonSports
LOCAL
//////////////
HEROES
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Candace Hill
HOW MUCH WILL TRIPLE CROWN WINNING THOROUGHBRED AMERICAN PHAROAH
MAKE IN STUD FEES?
— Meghann B., Auburn, Ala.
A lot. The “sex appeal” (so to speak) of breeding the first Triple Crown winner
in 37 years should drive up the price. Arguably the greatest sire in history,
Northern Dancer, commanded a $1 million stud fee at the height of his prowess. Last year, all 19 Kentucky Derby horses were descendants of Northern
Dancer — who also happens to be the great-great-great grandfather on both
sides of American Pharoah’s bloodlines (5x5 inbred). Other progeny of Northern Dancer have also commanded high-dollar stud fees, including Storm Cat
($500,000) and Tapit ($300,000). So, hypothetically, American Pharoah could
total career stud fees of $750 million — if he covers 150 mares per year at
$250,000 per mare for 20 years, which are all more realistic goals than winning the Triple Crown in the Sport of Kings.
Steph Curry’s daughter, Riley, stole the
spotlight at postgame press conferences
during the NBA Finals. Should the NBA
ban children from attending those media
events?
— Madison R., Atlanta, Ga.
Absolutely not. Let’s not forget that Steph
Curry is the son of an NBA player himself.
He ran around courts and locker rooms
when his dad, Dell, was raining 3s back in
the 1990s. Riley didn’t get in the way; she
made normally cliché-riddled postgame
pressers watchable.
The 16-year-old sophomore set a new
high school
girls record
for the 100meter dash,
running a
blistering 10.98
at the Brooks PR Invitational in Seattle. The
Conyers, Ga., native
and Rockdale County
HS student posted a
time that would have
been fast enough to
finish seventh in the
final heat of the 2012
London Olympics.
Only nine women in
the world have posted
faster 100-meter times
than Hill this year.
Kate Hall
A 39-year-old
high school
girls field
record was
surpassed
in a single
bound by Hall,
who soared for a
long jump of 22 feet,
5 inches at the New
Balance National
High School Invitational in Greensboro,
N.C. Hall, of Naples,
Maine, broke the previous record of 22 feet,
3 inches — which was
set by Kathy McMillan
in 1976.
HAVE A QUESTION OR WANT TO SUBMIT A “LOCAL HERO” CANDIDATE? Email us at editor@athlonsports.com. Or mail to: Athlon Sports, Suite 320, Building #2, Landers Plaza, 2451 Atrium Way, Nashville, TN 37214.
2 /// AthlonSports.com
American Pharoah: Reuters/Lucas Jackson/Landov; Hogan: Alpha/Landov; Foreman: DPA/Landov; Curry: EPA/Monica M. Davey/Landov; Hill: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY
Sports; Hall: John Ewing/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images
Is it true that
Hulk Hogan
turned down
the opportunity to endorse the grills that
George Foreman
has since made
famous?
— Kyle T., Travis, Texas
Let me tell you something,
brother. Hulk Hogan claims to
have had a chance to be the “lean,
mean, fat-reducing, grilling machine” champ. Instead, he either
missed his agent’s phone call
(as he claimed on his VH1 reality
show Hogan Knows Best) or told
his agent he’d rather endorse a
meatball maker (which he reportedly told actor Sam Worthington
at Comic-Con). It’s not as bad as
Ronald Wayne selling a 10 percent share of Apple for $800 in
1976. But considering that George
Foreman has made an estimated
$200 million as a grill pitchman,
the Hulkster probably regrets not
jumping off the top rope at the opportunity.
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Ken Werner, aka Kiltman Ken, of Mukwonago, Wis., loves the Wisconsin Badgers. “I was born a Badger, live my life as a
Badger, will forever be a Badger,” he says. We caught up with the 68-year-old UW grad (Class of ‘68) to learn more about his
passion for college football … and his kilt.
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SUPER
FAN
A BADGER OF HONOR
Tom Lynn Photography LLC
How will the Badgers do
this season? I’ve been
labeled an over-the-top
optimist. With that said, we
will sail through the nonconference games … win
all Big Ten West games …
prevail in a close one over
Ohio State in the Big Ten
Championship and then
move on to beat Auburn in
the National Championship game!
Do you have a favorite
season? The 1993-94 season. We had been the Big
Ten’s doormat for 30 years
and (coach) Barry Alvarez
led us to co-champions
of the Big Ten and a big
win in the Rose Bowl after
being labeled as a 10-point
underdog to UCLA.
What’s with the kilt? My
father served in World
War II and while on R&R in
Scotland donned a Scottish costume. My kilt is to
honor his service.
“
My kilt
is to honor
his service.
“
How many Wisconsin
Badgers games have you
attended? 442
IT’S LIKE
YOUR TONGUE
CRASHED INTO
A CHOCOLATY,
PEANUTY,
CARAMEL
ICEBERG.
ICE CREAM SATISFACTION
STARTER & CLOSER
[Q] You are the first pitcher
[Q] What was the transition
elected to the Hall of Fame
after having Tommy John
surgery. What impact did that
procedure have on your career? I thought I was done in
my career at age 34. I came into
the surgery pretty much telling
myself I was done. I’m glad I
didn’t cave in to that emotion,
because I would have missed
out on a lot. Without the surgery, the things that came after
it and led me to Cooperstown
wouldn’t have been possible.
from starter to closer like for
you? Closing is all by the seat
of your pants. You’re fired up to
get in, and then, if something
changes, the air comes out of
the balloon. I learned to detach
myself from the game, and,
when I went in, that’s when I
became engaged. I loved the
pressure of it. The adrenaline
rush that came from going into
the game and being tasked
with getting it over as soon as
possible — you can’t feel that
when starting.
“SMOLTZIE” SIDE SESSION
A few fun facts about John Smoltz:
u
u
[Q] What is your greatest
career accomplishment? I’m
probably most proud of making the change from starter to
closer, risking it all and going
to the pen. I had to learn how
to throw differently, and there
were so many components that
went awry early on. To then get
55 saves in 2002, I still shake
my head. That was one of the
hardest things I have ever done.
WELCOME
TO COOPERSTOWN,
JOHN SMOLTZ
John Smoltz built a wonderfully eclectic body of work as a pitcher during his 21-year
MLB career. He won both a Cy Young Award and a Silver Slugger Award, contributed to a
World Series championship team and hit five career home runs. He ended his career with
213 wins, 154 saves and 3,084 strikeouts. On July 26, he will be inducted into the
Baseball Hall of Fame alongside Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and Craig Biggio. We
recently caught up with Smoltz, who now calls games for MLB Network and FOX Sports.
[Q] Where do the 1990s Braves rank among all-time MLB dynasties? There will be
teams that win more championships in a certain time period, but no team will ever
win 14 straight Division titles. We were built for the long haul and had sustained
pitching excellence that was unprecedented.
4 /// AthlonSports.com
u
u
Mother and father were accordion
teachers; Smoltz competed in (and won)
accordion competitions as a child.
Carries a 1.0 golf handicap according to
PGA.com; Smoltz played a Nationwide Tour
event and attempted to qualify for the U.S.
Open. Tiger Woods told the Orlando Sentinel, “I had not ever played with an amateur
that had ever shot the scores he shot.”
Was offered a scholarship by Jud Heathcote to play basketball at Michigan State.
First nickname, “Marmaduke,” was given
by Braves teammate Dale Murphy.
[Q] Who was the toughest
batter you ever faced? Tony
Gwynn. I think I struck him out
twice in something like 70 atbats. He had the ability to get
his bat on the ball every time.
[Q] Were you disappointed you
weren’t in the “Chicks Dig the
Long Ball” Nike commercial
(back in the late-‘90s) with
Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and
Heather Locklear? I was way
disappointed. I was the only guy
who had hit a home run at the
time, but I wasn’t a Nike guy.
They got to do one of the best
commercials I have ever seen,
even though they hadn’t hit a
home run.
Photos by Tom DiPace
“
“
I was the only guy
who had hit a home run
at the time, but I wasn’t
a Nike guy.
2015 | COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
1.
OHIO STATE
BUCKEYES
Make no mistake, 2015 is the season Urban Meyer has been building
toward since arriving in Columbus
in 2012. The Urban legend brought
the Buckeyes to the promised land
a year earlier than expected, however, winning the inaugural College
Football Playoff (from the fourth
and final spot, mind you). The win
was Meyer’s third career national
title, having claimed two with the
Florida Gators. With four recruiting classes under his belt, this is a
Meyer team built in his own image.
He has three proven
QBs in Cardale Jones,
J.T. Barrett and
Braxton Miller;
a workhorse
running back in
Ezekiel Elliott;
and the early favorite to go No.
1 in the 2016 NFL
Draft in edge rusher
Joey Bosa — whose
celebratory post-sack
shrug is so popular
the POTUS mimicked him at
OSU’s White
House visit.
u Ezekiel Elliott
2.
ALABAMA
CRIMSON TIDE
Nick Saban has set the bar so
high in Tuscaloosa that a berth
in the College Football Playoff
— and subsequent Sugar Bowl
loss (42–35) to eventual champion Ohio State — is considered a
somewhat disappointing season
for the Crimson Tide. After all,
Saban has won three national
titles at Alabama (and a fourth
while at rival LSU). Like it or not,
T-Town expects to be Title-Town.
And this year’s Bama squad has
as much raw talent as any team
in the land — led by versatile
tailback Derrick Henry, massive
left tackle Cam Robu Derrick
inson and a Kirby
Henry
Smart-coached
defense that
returns seven
starters,
including
300-plus-pound
nose guard
A’Shawn Robinson. The schedule
is brutal from start
to finish, opening
against Wisconsin
at AT&T Stadium and
closing at Auburn in
the Iron Bowl.
3.
BAYLOR
BEARS
Coach Art Briles has an
uphill battle to make the
CFB Playoff. Baylor is
breaking in a new QB, with
Seth Russell replacing
former Big 12 Offensive
Player of the Year Bryce
Petty. The Bears will be
playing in a league that,
despite an empty slogan,
lacks “one true champion” due to the lack of
a conference title game;
that fact seemingly kept
both Baylor and rival
TCU out of last
year’s Playoff.
And the green
and gold will
have to
navigate
one of
the most
backloaded
schedules in the
country — with
its final five
contests at
Kansas State,
Oklahoma, at
Oklahoma State,
at TCU and Texas.
u Seth Russell
4.
By Nathan Rush
Cover photography by
Matt Hernandez Creative
AUBURN
TIGERS
New starting quarterback
Jeremy Johnson and new
defensive coordinator Will
Muschamp have fans On The
Plains yelling “War Eagle”
with the confidence that both
sides of the ball are in good
hands. In two seasons as a
backup QB, the 6’5”, 240pound Johnson completed a
combined 57-of-78 passes
(73.1 percent) for 858 yards,
nine TDs and two INTs, while
rushing for another 40 yards
and a score. Muschamp,
meanwhile, gives
coach Gus
Malzahn
a righthand man
with previous
head coaching experience at
Florida, previous
national championship coordinator
experience at
LSU under Nick
Saban and previous experience
on the staff at Auburn (2006-07).
u
Jeremy Johnson
FOR PREVIEWS OF ALL 128 TEAMS, VISIT ATHLONSPORTS.COM/COLLEGE-FOOTBALL/TOP-25
5. TCU Hosts Baylor in finale. 6. USC “7-win Sark” or not? 7. Michigan State Plays at U-M and at OSU. 8. Oregon Replacing Mariota is key.
9. Florida State 29–1 in last 30 games. 10. Georgia Chubb takes pressure off young QB. 11. Ole Miss Junior class may be nation’s best.
12. Notre Dame 10 starters return on D. 13. Arizona State Bercovici takes over at QB. 14. Clemson Watson a darkhorse Heisman threat.
15. LSU Fournette makes O geaux. 16. Arkansas NFL-size O-line. 17. Oklahoma Plays both UTs. 18. Georgia Tech Thomas built for option.
19. Wisconsin New coach, same approach. 20. Texas A&M Garrett terrorizes QBs. 21. Miss. State All seven SEC West teams in Top 25.
22. Tennessee 17 returning starters. 23. UCLA Frosh Rosen to start. 24. Stanford Shaw 42–12 at SU. 25. Florida McElwain > Muschamp.
6 /// AthlonSports.com
Elliott: Ric Fogel/Athlon Sports; Henry: Harrison McClary/Athlon Sports
Russell: Chris Covatta/Athlon Sports; Johnson: Tom Dipace/Athlon Sports
PRESEASON TOP 25
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AthlonSports.com /// 7
2015 | COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
5 BOLD
1.
Michigan’s first-year coach will make a splash in
his homecoming to Ann Arbor. Harbaugh has
already been photographed coaching shirtless at a satellite camp this summer — a look that goes great with his
51-year-old dadbod and signature Walmart khakis. But that
certainly won’t be the last eyebrow-raising moment for the
Michigan Man. Brace yourself for the inevitable GIFs and
memes following underdog wins, postgame handshakes
and heated exchanges with players, refs, mascots, fans and
whomever might spark the rage of Harbaugh. As for his relationship with Ohio State’s Urban Meyer? Oh, let it be á la
Pete Carroll, his fierce Pac-12 and NFL rival.
By Nathan Rush
JOEY BOSA WILL WIN
THE HEISMAN TROPHY
Go ahead and shrug your shoulders.
It could and should happen. It’s
about time a defense-only playmaker won college football’s most
prestigious award. The 6’6”, 275pound Bosa is just the man to do it.
4.
3.
“SEC BIAS” WILL BE THE
MOST POPULAR COMPLAINT
The Southeastern Conference won seven straight national championships from 2006-12. Six SEC teams
were in the final AP Top 25 poll last year. Ten are in our
preseason Top 25, including two (Alabama and Auburn)
projected to be in this year’s College Football Playoff. If
and when two SEC teams punch Playoff tickets, expect
plenty of anti-SEC hot takes — deserved or otherwise.
FAMOUS FATHERS
WILL HOG TOO
MUCH ATTENTION
C’mon, dad. You’re embarrassing
me. Sean Combs, aka “Puff Daddy,”
can’t stop, won’t stop but needs to
stop after being arrested following
a weight room altercation at UCLA,
where son Justin Combs plays.
Snoop Dogg’s son, Cordell, also plays
at UCLA. Not to be outdone, Notre
Dame has a slew of celebrity dads
hanging around thanks to the sons of
Jon Bon Jovi (Jesse Bongiovi), David
Robinson (Corey Robinson) and Torii
Hunter (Torii Hunter Jr.). Ken Griffey
Jr. has been photographed taking
photographs on the sideline as Trey
Griffey plays at Arizona. And you do
the math on the proud papas of Stanford’s Barry Sanders Jr. and SMU’s
Deion Sanders Jr.
8 /// AthlonSports.com
5.
“FREE-AGENT” QB S WILL
PICK UP WHERE HEISMAN
WINNERS LEFT OFF
Postgraduate transfers have become
en vogue and continue to trend at a
breakneck pace. (If a player has already
graduated, he is eligible to transfer to
another institution without having to sit
out a season.) “Free agency,” as it were,
is helping the rich stay rich without having to wait. This year, the postgraduate
quarterback class is as high profile as
it’s ever been. After leading Notre Dame
to the national title game in 2012, Everett Golson will replace Jameis Winston
at Florida State. Across the country,
two-time Walter Payton Award runnerup Vernon Adams Jr. is flying from
Eastern Washington to replace Marcus
Mariota at Oregon. And there’s an off
chance that fifth-year senior Braxton
Miller could transfer from Ohio State.
Bosa by Matt Hernandez Creative
Harbaugh by AL.Com /Landov
PREDICTIONS
2.
JIM HARBAUGH WILL BREAK THE INTERNET
2015 | COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Three’s Company
There have been many
high-profile quarterback controversies in
college football history.
Michigan’s Tom Brady
vs. Drew Henson debate
comes to mind. But
never has there been a
QB conundrum quite
like the one Ohio State
is facing. Here’s a tale
of the tape for the Big 3
contenders:
BRAXTON MILLER
(6’2”, 215, SR-5th)
Pros: Two-time Big Ten
Offensive Player of the
Year (2012, 2013).
Cons: Missed entire 2014
season with right shoulder injury. Could transfer.
J . T. B A R R E T T
(6’2”, 225, SO)
Pros: 11–1 as a starter;
accounted for Big Ten
record 45 TDs in ’14.
Cons: Father, Joe, thinks
“Braxton should get that
position back.”
CARDALE JONES
(6’5”, 250, JR-RS)
Pros: Beat Wisconsin,
Alabama and Oregon en
route to national title.
Cons: Least experienced
of QB trio; has only three
career starts.
10 /// AthlonSports.com
It’s never too early to handicap
who will win college football’s most
coveted award and iconic hardware.
These are the Las Vegas favorites,
according to online gambling site
Bovada. (Odds as of July 1.)
6/1
7/1
9/1
10/1
12/1
12/1
12/1
12/1
16/1
16/1
20/1
Trevone Boykin, QB, TCU
Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State
Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia
Braxton Miller, QB, Ohio State
Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU
Jeremy Johnson, QB, Auburn
Cody Kessler, QB, USC
Dak Prescott, QB, Mississippi State
Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama
Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson
Cardale Jones, QB, Ohio State
Bounce-Back
CHRISTIAN HACKENBERG
QB, Penn State, JR
Once thought to be a contender
for the No. 1 overall pick in the
2016 NFL Draft, Hackenberg
had a sophomore slump (12
TDs, 15 INTs) but aims to get
back on track during coach
James Franklin’s second season in Happy Valley.
September Showdowns
These untraditional non-conference
games will determine who’s still
standing at the top of the rankings
after the first month of the season.
Sept. 5 Alabama vs. Wisconsin (Arlington, TX)
Sept. 5 Texas at Notre Dame
Sept. 5 Auburn vs. Louisville (Atlanta)
Sept. 7 Ohio State at Virginia Tech
Sept. 12 Oregon at Michigan State
Sept. 12 Oklahoma at Tennessee
Must-See TV
The SEC Network launched in August 2014. But it has already been a
ratings boon for the bottom line of
budgets within the conference.
$455.8 $31.2
MILLION MILLION
Revenue
generated by the
SEC Network.
TV money
distributed to
each SEC school.
Breakout Star
ADOREÉ JACKSON
CB/WR/RET, USC, SO
An Olympic-caliber long jumper
and three-way football star,
Jackson is ready to take his
game to another level after a
freshman year that included
three receiving TDs, two kick
return TDs and lockdown corner defense on opponents’ top
wideouts.
Miller: Tom Lynn; Barrett, Elliott and Jones: Ric Fogel/Athlon Sports; Boykin: Chris Covatta/Athlon Sports
Hackenburg: Fred Vuich/Athlon Sports; Jackson: Peter Brouillet/Athlon Sports
CFB
THE KICKOFF
Heisman Trophy Roulette
REARVIEW MIRROR
Monte Carlo was presented, which was a superior car. Then you had
Hendrick Motorsports and the 24 team that started to rise to the top
from a competition standpoint. (Crew chief) Ray Evernham played a big role in that. We just really started to
click and have great racecars.
[Q] Which is more stressful, hosting Saturday
Night Live or running full throttle three wide into
a corner at Talladega? Nothing’s more stressful
than Saturday Night Live. It was terrifying. When I’m
three wide on a racetrack, while it might not be the
“It’s more than just stats. It’s how you raced.”
uJEFF GORDON
“It’s how much effort you put into it — passion.”
position I want to be in, it’s
what I do. I’ve been doing it
for a long time.
Jeff Gordon has gone from being dubbed “Wonderboy” by the late Dale Earnhardt
to becoming a living legend in his own right. Halfway through his 23rd and final full
season, we take a look back at one of NASCAR’s greatest careers. By Matt Crossman
[Q] The 1992 Hooters 500 was your first race and Richard Petty’s last race. It’s become this “passing of the torch”
symbolic event. But in the moment, it was nothing
like that, right? Of course not. In the moment, I
have visual memories of Richard that weekend
walking through the garage area just completely
being mobbed, taking all that into perspective, me
being this completely green kid having no idea what
he was getting himself into.
[Q] From 1995 through 1998 you ran 127 races and won 40.
What was going on? Even when I look at those stats, I’m blown
away and in awe of what we accomplished. In 1994, we became
a much more confident team. Then, in 1995, the new Chevrolet
12 /// AthlonSports.com
Jimmie Johnson and say,
“I hired this dude, and he
won six championships.
One or two of those could
have been mine.” No. I don’t
think of it that way. You’re
From 1992-99, Gordon and crew chief Ray Evernham
always going to be faced
dominated NASCAR’s premier circuit, winning 47 races
against a fierce competitor.
and three Winston Cup titles.
I don’t think it necessarily
means we would’ve won
those championships. He’s actually inspired me in many ways, to bring
out more competitiveness in myself, to work harder at being more fit
and focused. But I’m more proud that he came to me for advice, I saw
something in him that I felt like was worth recommending to Rick
(Hendrick) to put him in the car, and it’s turned out the way it has.
[Q] What do you want your legacy to be? As a racecar driver, first
and foremost you want to be recognized for what you did on the
track. It’s more than just stats. It’s how you raced. It’s how much
effort you put into it — passion. There’s a lot of people that don’t
know the things I do off the track, behind the scenes. I’ve tried to do
the best I possibly could to represent my team, my sponsors, drive the
racecar best I could, utilize that to help other people through my foundation and help others’ foundations as well as give back to the fans. …
It’s been a heck of a ride.
Gordon, far left: Action Sports, Inc.; Petty: Harrison McClary/Athlon Sports; SNL: Dana Edelson/
NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images; With Evernham: Focus on Sport/Getty Images
[Q] Do you ever look at
With football season set to kick off, now is a good time to talk about another favorite pastime — drinking a beer while watching the game. We sat down for a cold one with Redhook Ale Brewery’s Nick Crandall, who gave us his expert opinion on everything from tailgating tips to Andre the Giant drinking 150 beers once upon a time. (And don’t forget, always find a designated
driver and tip your bartender.) Cheers!
//////////////
[Q] There’s a tall tale that Andre the Giant
once drank 150 beers in one sitting. Do you
believe that? Is that what it would take to
get buzzed if you’re 7'4"
and 500 pounds?
I do believe that the 8th
Wonder of the World
drank 150 beers, but I
also believe that he was a
little more than “buzzed”
after that.
[Q] Do you have any tailgating tips? Plan
ahead and always start early.
[Q] What’s the best drinking game to play
while tailgating? I’m a big fan of cornhole,
especially drinking when your opponent
scores or whenever either of you score. The
more drinking, the better.
[Q] What is the proper technique to
pour a beer? Hold your glass at a 45-degree angle to start. Pour onto the side of the
glass to reduce foaming. As the glass fills,
slowly bring your glass back to vertical and
create a little foam by giving some distance
to the glass to create a nice thick head.
[Q] What question are you asked most
about beer? No doubt, how much beer I get
to drink while I’m at work.
[Q] How much beer do you get to drink
while you’re at work? Depends on if the
boss has gone home already.
[Q] What’s your personal favorite
beer that your company brews?
Winterhook. Our winter seasonal
changes a little each year, giving us a
fresh new malty and hoppy beer each
winter.
[Q] What’s the optimal temperature for
beer? It depends on the style. But generally,
lagers are around 40°F and ales are around
50°F. But each beer sort of has a sweet spot.
[Q] What food goes best with your
Winterhook beer? Burritos. But I kind of
just really love burritos.
[Q] What’s the fastest way to make
hot beer cold enough to drink? I’m
going to say liquid nitrogen, but I wouldn’t
recommend that for safety reasons.
[Q] Which is the best way to serve beer:
can, bottle or draft? I prefer draft, since
you’re automatically putting it into a glass,
allowing you to smell the beer and appreciate the flavors more.
[Q] Why do some beers have fruit garnishes and others do not? Some beers don’t
need them.
14 /// AthlonSports.com
[Q] How many beers are too many for one
sitting? I don’t know. I usually just end up
standing.
Crandall: Courtesy of Redhook Brewery; Beer pour, beer cube and burritos by iStock Photos
A FAN
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