Just A Bit Outside: Guess where Jim Harbaugh got khakis
Local Colts fan Austin Jeffers remembers well his Feb. 20 trip to an Indianapolis Walmart, 4545 Lafayette Road, where he spotted a familiar famous face.
It was San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh, in town for the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. And Harbaugh was buying khakis, the same $8 pleated pants that have become an amusing storyline with the 49ers in Sunday's NFC Championship Game at Seattle.
"Captain Comeback" could afford any clothes, but he likes 'em cheap, much to the dismay of his wife, Sarah, who recently phoned CBS Radio's Fernando and Greg to complain about her husband's attire.
"I've thrown them away many times," Sarah said. "I've asked him please! Pleats are gone! Wear the flat fronts. He's got a flattering body!" I threw them out and when he went to the combine [in Indianapolis last February], he found a Walmart. They were $8. $8! He pulls them up to the middle of his stomach. I said, 'You're aging yourself 50 years and you look like 'Rainman.'"
Jeffers was ecstatic about his run-in with the former Colts quarterback. He e-mailed The Star to provide details.
"My heart starts beating fast because Indianapolis loves Jim Harbaugh," Jeffers wrote. "I remembered the game he quarterbacked for the Colts against Pittsburgh that came down to within a Hail Mary of the Colts going to the Super Bowl."
Jeffers said he congratulated Harbaugh on the 49ers making the Super Bowl earlier that month. Then he took a couple pictures of him. The one of them together is blurry, so we'll publish the one of just the coach.
You can see those khakis.
All's fair in postgame TV interviews
The Indiana Pacers continue to have a good time, especially after winning NBA games. So much so that after a home victory earlier this week, All-Star Paul George received some good-natured teasing from teammates Lance Stephenson and George Hill.
The affectionate ear touch treatments are called "wet willies."
A fan tweeted this photo and quote from George, who probably wasn't referring to "wet willies" when he said, "To me, teammates make you better."
'Kitten Bowl' before Super Bowl
In preparation for Super Bowl XLVIII, the Hallmark Channel provides the purr-fect "Kitten Bowl."
Yes, four teams of kittens will "lock whiskers in paw-to-paw comcat action" with a few familiar names adding to the event. New York Yankees radio voice John Sterling joins North Shore Animal League America spokesperson Beth Stern with the play-by-play call. Celebrities include Regis Philbin, Rachael Ray, Hoda Kotb, Lisa Vanderpump, Rocco DiSpirito, Nicky Hilton, Bob Harper, Renee Herlocker, Carrie Ann Inaba and Kelly Rutherford.
The first-time TV event is at noon on Feb. 2, the day of the Super Bowl.
Around the NFL world
Foam Finger founder Rhett Grametbauer, actor/host Grayson Berry and filmmaker Eric Carpenter have traveled to all 31 NFL stadiums in 16 weeks in a '67 Volkswagen Bus named "Hail Mary."
The tour, designed to promote FoamFingerNation.com, will be featured in the documentary "25,000 Miles to Glory." NFL Films was along for the ride and will feature the segment of NFL Films Presents on ESPN2 Jan. 29th and 30th as well as Feb. 1, the day before the Super Bowl.
"Seeing every NFL stadium is the realization of a childhood dream for me," Grametbauer said. "Working with NFL Films is unbelievable and something I wish every fan who grew up watching Steve Sabol could experience. I already owned the quintessential road-trip vehicle, an air-cooled VW Bus so I decided to put my love for sports and travel together. What I learned from the NFL fans and VW enthusiasts we met during the trip has restored my faith in humanity. It's like our tagline says, '10 percent Football, 90 percent Fellowship.'"
Interesting Manning stat vs. Patriots
Peyton Manning has had his share of games against Sunday's AFC Championship Game opponent, the New England Patriots.
ESPN Stats Info tweeted these numbers for the Denver quarterback: "Peyton Manning: 6-23 (26.1 pct), 0 TD, 4 Int passing 15+ yards downfield in postseason career vs Patriots."
It makes you wonder how often Manning will throw a deeper ball this time around. Manning is 1-2 against the Patriots in the playoffs.
While Manning has had trouble against his rivals, ESPN's Ashley Fox there's no lack of respect for the quarterback around the league. A panel of 320 players were asked to name the NFL's most respected player -- Manning won in a landslide with 27 percent of the tallies. He received 86 votes. Tom Brady and Adrian Peterson tied for second with 24 votes.
NFL player tweets picture with marijuana?
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Davone Bess is being investigated after his Twitter account tweeted a picture with what looks like marijuana on a table.
The NFL and Browns are looking into it.
Bess signed a three-year contract extension for $11.5 million, including $6 million guaranteed, after being acquired from Miami last April. He's set to earn a little more than $3 million next season.
How will 49ers deal with Seattle sound?
The 49ers know it will be loud at Seattle's CenturyLink Field for Sunday's NFC Championship Game.
To prepare for the din, Harbaugh's team has been practicing with lip reading, motioning and even sign language. Oh, and quarterback Colin Kaepernick will repeat calls in the huddle, preferably shouting them.
The 49ers lost 29-3 at Seattle during the regular season in Week 2. We'll see if they've learned anything from the experience.