Emmitt Smith Likes His Leprechaun Suit

Even if you're like us and generally do what you can to insulate yourself from such things, you've probably heard about the recent on air dust-up between Kelly Ripa and Clay Aiken, during which Aiken put his hand over Ripa’s mouth because he was trying to ask a question and couldn’t get a word in edgewise.

While we have to admit that we did find it pretty entertaining to see the deep-seeded tension that exists between these two, we were more preoccupied with the outfit Emmitt Smith was wearing during his appearance on the show.

Sporting a shiny green sleeveless shirt, matching green shoes and these weird green bands that wrapped around the top of each of his biceps, Emmitt looked like a reject from the Leprechaun Academy of Weightlifting (whatever that means). Admittedly, we never saw him on Dancing with the Stars, but we realize that he sported similar outfits during his appearances on the show.

However, this doesn’t make it any less bizarre. What is the meaning of these strange armbands? They basically made it look like his shirt once had short sleeves but they have since been almost entirely torn off, leaving just the bottom ring of cloth in their place. Another way to describe it is that they look really stupid.

Furthermore, why was Emmitt appearing on television in this dance outfit anyways? We understand that he was pleased with his performance on the show, but would he have shown up on a talk show after winning a Super Bowl with the Cowboys wearing cleats and a helmet? No. And by the same logic, there’s just no need to wear that silly dance outfit anywhere other than the stage where that show was recorded.

--------------------

The Braves big deal for Mark Teixeira on Monday not only brings some much needed stability to first base, but it also signals the end of a short but memorable run as the starting first baseman for Julio Franco. The peak of that stretch came on Friday night against Arizona, when after a long and impressive at-bat, the ageless one lashed a double inside the first base bag to score two runs and bring the Braves within one, sending one group of 15 or so Braves fans in an Atlanta household into an absolute frenzy, as chants of “hoo-lee-OH, hoo-lee-OH, hoo-lee-OH” rang out like the crack of a baseball hitting the barrel of a 36 oz. piece of lumber.

We’ve said it before many times, and now is as good a time as any to say it again:

Viva la Julio.