If anything good has come from Charlie Sheen’s epic meltdown, it has been the catch phrases. Tiger blood, winning, and DUH! have become everyday catch phrases. In honor of Charlie Sheen, let’s break down who is winning in sports.
Jimmer Fredette. Even though BYU is no longer playing the NCAA tournament, the clear winner in the tournament is Mr. Fredette. “Jimmermania” spread quickly throughout BYU, the state of Utah, and eventually the nation. He quickly became one of the faces of the NCAA this season. He led the league in scoring, averaging 28.5 points per game. However, his win comes from his name. “Jimmer” is one of the more unique names for a modern day athlete, and it quickly set off a pop culture phenomenon. Videos on Youtube featured Jimmer’s highlight reels set to the music of “Teach Me How to Jimmer” Clearly, Jimmer Fredette is winning.
The Nuggets. There was a lot of speculation as to why Carmelo Anthony wanted a trade. He’d get to live in New York, play at Madison Square Garden, and have a better shot at winning a championship. However, Nuggets fans know the real reason. His wife. Lala Anthony, definitely wears the pants in that relationship She couldn’t get any TV show hosting jobs in Denver. So she essentially made Melo pack up and leave. Not that Nuggets fans should be bitter. The Nuggets have gone 12-4 since the trade. The Knicks have been a disappointing 7-10 since acquiring Anthony. That has left Anthony with a lot of pressure to succeed, and a busted eye. Anthony, never one to downplay his own talent, has been surprisingly quiet since the trade, and always makes sure to congratulate the Nuggets after a win. I’m sure Anthony thought he’d be winning this situation, but it really is the Nuggets who are winning.
Barry Bonds. Sure, Barry Bonds holds the records for pretty much every home run category, but any baseball fan knows that Bonds is the most steroid ridden player in the history of the sport. So why does that make him a winner? Because he is now back in the headlines. His trial for lying to a grand jury about his steroid use has propelled him back into the households of America, a fact he is no doubt eating up. He loves attention from everyone, and is no stranger to controversy, so this trial is like a wish come true to the most controversial man in all of sports.
College Football. Starting next fall, Sundays may get a lot less interesting if the NFL continues with their lockout. If I were an owner of a football team, it wouldn’t matter to me that thousands of people will be without jobs, and millions of people will be without entertainment. As long as I got my extra billion dollars to buy yet another yacht, I’d be happy. But I’m not a football owner, so I know that if there is no NFL next season, I’ll have to get my football fix on Saturdays when college football teams play. This means more TV airtime for college football games, more ticket sales, and inevitably, more attention. Maybe college football profits will help to fund their respective universities, since the government sure can’t figure out a way to.

hrrutt@mesastate.edu