Long before she became a pit bull with lipstick in politics, Sarah Palin had another moniker: Sarah Barracuda.
A tough defender and sturdy point guard, the Republican vice presidential candidate helped lead the girls' basketball team at Wasilla High School to an Alaska state championship in 1982, grabbing a piece of hardwood lore in the small town that all but worships her.
“The final game was kind of surreal,” said Katy Allers, who played in the backcourt with Palin. “We never thought we would make it that far. It was just unbelievable.”
No. 22 didn't have a lot of natural ability when it came to basketball. Unlike the publicity tied to her ascent in politics of late, she didn't get a lot of ink in Alaska's newspapers when she played hoops.
Like Barack Obama, who played in high school, Palin was not a star.
Palin, who also ran cross-country, struggled for three years before finally landing a starting spot on the varsity and becoming co-captain.
TRIVIA TIME
Against which team did the Philadelphia Warriors' Wilt Chamberlain score his 100 points in a game in 1962?
OCHO CINCO: I KISSED A COACH
Chad Ocho Cinco fessed up: He kissed the coach.
The Cincinnati Bengals receiver acknowledged yesterday that he leaned into coach Marvin Lewis and gave him a peck on the cheek during a 31-22 loss in Dallas.
The Pro Bowl receiver was struggling through another afternoon of double coverages and missed chances on Sunday. He had only three catches for 43 yards as the Bengals fell to 0-5. When he came to the sideline at one point, Lewis reminded him to stay positive.
“He whispered something in my ear that I really liked, so I kissed him,” Ocho Cinco said.
The receiver leaned in as if he was going to say something into Lewis' left ear, then planted a quick one on his cheek.
MIZZOU SLIDE STEPS FOR CHASE
In the tradition of the Ryan Leaf leaf, Joey Harrington's Times Square billboard and the DeAngelo Williams mobile, Missouri has found a unique way to remind Heisman Trophy voters to keep an eye out for Chase Daniel.
The Mizzou football slide viewer, a View-master-style toy that's sure to bring back childhood memories, has been showing up in mail boxes of voters and media members around the country.
“I didn't want to do just a mouse pad or a coffee mug, other standard items or more basic items. I didn't want to do anything that people could just toss aside,” Missouri sports information director Chad Moller said by phone yesterday. “We wanted to create a little splash and do it in a classy manner.”
TRIVIA ANSWER
Chamberlain scored his 100 points against the New York Knicks.
– COMPILED BY LARRY BRILLHART
FROM NEWS SERVICES, ONLINE REPORTS
