Kelvin Sampson lied to Jeff Stanger about enjoying Trolley Dodgers and looking forward to the release Kansaska.

In a statement released today, Sampson said that he does not “give a (expletive) about Trolley Dodgers, Kansaska, Jeff Stanger, baseball or even all of the (expletive) ‘freaks’ in Bloomington, Indiana.”

Sampson went on to say, “And you people wonder why Coach Knight acted the way he did? If I had to put up with reading this sort of (expletive) put out by Indiana University graduates, not to mention what I’ve seen on Kirkwood Avenue at night, for close to thirty years, you can be guaranteed that I’d do more than throw chairs and occasionally slap or choke someone. Jeff Stanger, Trolley Dodgers and the mere thought of Kansaska being released makes me want to down a fifth of Jack while making some important recruiting calls.”

Jeff Stanger could not be reached for comment, but his publicist stated that “Sampson wouldn’t know a good book if he saw it” and went on to state that she wasn’t “even sure if the man can read”.

You can read the full transcript of Kelvin Sampson’s statement on The Onion.

Carry on, Citizens!

A few days ago Dan Gordon, co-author of Haunted Baseball: Ghosts, Curses, Legends & Eerie Events dropped Jeff and I a note inquiring if we’d give the book a mention on the Trolley Dodgers Podcast and/or the Utter Oddcast. While we haven’t given this a mention yet, I’m sure that we will at some point, but until then here are a few snippets to whet your appetite for some baseball oddness…

• According to Hopi Indian legend, the domed living headquarters of one of the three “lost underground cities” is said to exist below the stadium. Hopi Chief Little Greenleaf in the 1930s told the Los Angeles Times that the network of tunnels was built five thousand years ago by a highly advanced race called the “Lizard People.”
• Prior to their 2002 World Series, Los Angeles Angels players for generations felt the team was cursed, as evidenced by the numerous odd – and sometimes fatal – injuries that constantly befell the players. The story developed that Edison Field was built on ancient Native American ground, and with Gene Autry owning the team, this was a supernatural version of the Cowboys-vs-Indians dispute. In 1977, the club went so far as to bring in a witch to undo the spell. (Among those interviewed for the chapter: Todd Greene, Kent Mercker, Troy Glaus, Kevin Appier, Scott Schoeneweis, Troy Percival, Benji Gil, Tim Salmon, Jim Edmonds, Mike Sciosia).

Beware of the Lizard People.

*Guest Blogger, Brian Groce. You’ve gotta love palindromes.