Deli Daily Half Dozen

Deli Daily Half Dozen - December 3, 2007

Every day there are many athletes who suit up in jerseys, pads, uniforms, shorts, shoes, cleats, headbands and helmets. Some of these players are class acts, others are horrible role models. Some perform well, while others stink worse than one of Bear Grylls' waffle sweaters after he's trekked the Sahara Desert. The point is this: on a daily basis there are all kinds of different performances by athletes. Here to categorize them for you is our own Patrick Crawley in a feature we like to call the Deli Daily Half Dozen. Each day Patrick selects 6 players who stood out during that day's athletic contests (get it? 6 players, each day...a Daily Half Dozen) and analyzes their performances in reference to things that come in dozens (like eggs, for instance).

These 6 players stood out on December 3, 2007:

Josh Howard - Good Egg
Howard torched the Chicago Bulls on Monday for 27 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists on 50% field goal shooting. He started off the game with a made jumper and then caught fire like a scarecrow wrapped in a gasoline blanket. The Mavericks small forward had 18 points in the first half as the Mavs opened an early lead. Howard finished the game with his second double-double of the young season. At least someone in Dallas is picking up the slack for Super-German Dirk Nowitzki, who has suffered from diminished numbers this season.

Tim Duncan - Broken Egg
With the 2007-08 Spurs rolling harder than Marcus Vick in the parking lot of a McDonald's, Duncan's sudden first half injury in Sunday's game against the Blazers really put a scare in the City of Spurs. Fortunately for Spurs Nation, Duncan appears to be missing only a handful of games. His bruised right knee and sprained right ankle should heal and allow him to play soon.

Rodney Harrison - Rotten Egg
In Monday night's victory over the Baltimore Ravens, Harrison showed once again that he is far from a class act. Following a fourth quarter play in the Patriot secondary, Harrison strolled by the Baltimore sideline and visibly trash-talked head coach Brian Billick. In taunting a man at least 20 years older than himself -- and by invading Billick's personal space worse than a Schick commercial -- Harrison justified his reputation as one of the league's biggest jackasses. Then again, maybe he's just mad that O.J. Mayo stole his mustache.

The Yankees-Twins Trade - Scrambled Egg

Over the weekend, the New York Yankees finally relented to the alleged demands of the Minnesota Twins and pushed young pitcher Phillip Hughes into the trade talks concerning Twins ace Johan Santana. At that point, Santana-to-New York seemed like a done deal. Unfortunately for the Yanks -- and fortunately for everyone who roots against them -- Hal Steinbrenner, the newly minted King of the Bronx, set a Monday night deadline that has since come and gone. Now trade talks are more scrambled than a Denver omlet. The next-highest bidder (the "World" Champion Boston Red Sox) has now offered comparable talent, throwing 24-year-old outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury into the pot, which puts the Yankees in an uncomfortable position. The Twins need a new CF and the Red Sox need the Yankees not to get Santana (how's that for twisted logic?). If the Twins decide to pull the trigger, we may well see a coup in New York. Will this be the end of Prince Hal's reign?

Willis McGahee - Mega Egg
The award for the largest sized egg (73 grams) in the world goes to the days biggest producer: Willis McGahee. In a game that most expected to be as one-sided as a teeter-totter, McGahee put a genuine scare into Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots by rushing for 138 yards on 30 carries and a hard-fought TD. The former Miami Hurricane represented well for the memory of his fellow alumni (Sean Taylor) and was the catalyst behind the biggest challenge yet for the undefeated Patriots (now 12-0). The Patriots won the game thanks to some last-minute gifts from the referees and Baltimore's coaching staff (which called a timeout just before the Ravens stopped a 4th-and-1 play that would have defeated the Pats, thus negating the play). With his 138 yards, McGahee went over the 1,000 yard mark for the year; causing fantasy football owners everywhere to drool on their keyboards with delight.

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Davis Sports Deli's Deli Daily Half Dozen By: Patrick Crawley Deli Daily Half Dozen - December 3, 2007 Every day there are many athletes who suit up in jerseys, pads, uniforms, shorts, shoes, cleats, headbands and helmets. Some of these players are class acts, others are horrible role models. Some perform well, while others stink worse than one of Bear Grylls' waffle sweaters after he's trekked the Sahara Desert. The point is this: on a daily basis there are all kinds of different performances by athletes. Here to categorize them for you is our own Patrick Crawley in a feature we like to call the Deli Daily Half Dozen. Each day Patrick selects 6 players who stood out during that day's athletic contests (get it? 6 players, each day...a Daily Half Dozen) and analyzes their performances in reference to things that come in dozens (like eggs, for instance). These 6 players stood out on December 3, 2007: Josh Howard - Good Egg Howard torched the Chicago Bulls on Monday for 27 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists on 50% field goal shooting. He started off the game with a made jumper and then caught fire like a scarecrow wrapped in a gasoline blanket. The Mavericks small forward had 18 points in the first half as the Mavs opened an early lead. Howard finished the game with his second double-double of the young season. At least someone in Dallas is picking up the slack for Super-German Dirk Nowitzki, who has suffered from diminished numbers this season. Tim Duncan - Broken Egg With the 2007-08 Spurs rolling harder than Marcus Vick in the parking lot of a McDonald's, Duncan's sudden first half injury in Sunday's game against the Blazers really put a scare in the City of Spurs. Fortunately for Spurs Nation, Duncan appears to be missing only a handful of games. His bruised right knee and sprained right ankle should heal and allow him to play soon. Rodney Harrison - Rotten Egg In Monday night's victory over the Baltimore Ravens, Harrison showed once again that he is far from a class act. Following a fourth quarter play in the Patriot secondary, Harrison strolled by the Baltimore sideline and visibly trash-talked head coach Brian Billick. In taunting a man at least 20 years older than himself -- and by invading Billick's personal space worse than a Schick commercial -- Harrison justified his reputation as one of the league's biggest jackasses. Then again, maybe he's just mad that O.J. Mayo stole his mustache. The Yankees-Twins Trade - Scrambled Egg Over the weekend, the New York Yankees finally relented to the alleged demands of the Minnesota Twins and pushed young pitcher Phillip Hughes into the trade talks concerning Twins ace Johan Santana. At that point, Santana-to-New York seemed like a done deal. Unfortunately for the Yanks -- and fortunately for everyone who roots against them -- Hal Steinbrenner, the newly minted King of the Bronx, set a Monday night deadline that has since come and gone. Now trade talks are more scrambled than a Denver omlet. The next-highest bidder (the "World" Champion Boston Red Sox) has now offered comparable talent, throwing 24-year-old outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury into the pot, which puts the Yankees in an uncomfortable position. The Twins need a new CF and the Red Sox need the Yankees not to get Santana (how's that for twisted logic?). If the Twins decide to pull the trigger, we may well see a coup in New York. Will this be the end of Prince Hal's reign? Willis McGahee - Mega Egg The award for the largest sized egg (73 grams) in the world goes to the days biggest producer: Willis McGahee. In a game that most expected to be as one-sided as a teeter-totter, McGahee put a genuine scare into Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots by rushing for 138 yards on 30 carries and a hard-fought TD. The former Miami Hurricane represented well for the memory of his fellow alumni (Sean Taylor) and was the catalyst behind the biggest challenge yet for the undefeated Patriots (now 12-0). The Patriots won the game thanks to some last-minute gifts from the referees and Baltimore's coaching staff (which called a timeout just before the Ravens stopped a 4th-and-1 play that would have defeated the Pats, thus negating the play). With his 138 yards, McGahee went over the 1,000 yard mark for the year; causing fantasy football owners everywhere to drool on their keyboards with delight.