Monday’s Hot Clicks: Kid Gets Autographed Ball After Cubs Fan Gets Pilloried by Internet

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I’m glad there was a happy ending

This post has been updated after it turned out the guy in the sunglasses wasn’t such a bad dude. 

Here is a clip from yesterday’s Cubs-Cardinals broadcast on TBS that makes one Chicago fan look really bad. 

The video caused a major stir on social media, prompting the Cubs to hook the kid up with a signed Javier Baez ball. 

But look carefully—he’s holding two balls, one of which is clearly game-used.

Sure enough, the guy actually did hook the kid up with a game-used ball earlier in the game. That would have been enough to make the kid’s day, but then the backlash against the guy in the sunglasses landed him an autgraph as well. That’s good news for the kid but not for the sunglasses guy.

A performance for the ages

In my eight years as a country club caddie I saw plenty of guys play golf hungover, but I never saw anyone shoot a 67 on one of the hardest courses in the world.

Eddie Pepperell, a 27-year-old Englishman playing in his fifth major, appeared out of the running after shooting an even-par 71 on Saturday at Carnoustie. He was only one under par, eight strokes behind Jordan Spieth, so he went out and had a few adult beverages, figuring he didn’t need to be on top of his game for Sunday’s final round.

Well, nursing a hangover, Pepperell went out and shot a four-under 67.

“I was a little hungover. I won’t lie. I had too much to drink last night,” he admitted later. “And I was so frustrated yesterday, that today was really, I wouldn’t say a write–off, but I didn’t feel I was in the golf tournament. Whether I shot 69 or 73 today, it wouldn’t have been heartbreaking. But as it happens, I shot 67. So, you know, it's a funny game.”

That was good enough to push Pepperell to five under for the tournament, putting him in a tie for sixth place. He earned $327,000 for that gutsy performance. Had he shot a 73 like he thought he might, he would have been tied for 35th place and taken home only $53,000. That should cover his bar tab.

Humboldt crash survivor hits the ice again

Remember when Ryan Straschnitzki, the Humboldt Broncos defenseman who was paralyzed from the chest down in the bus crash that killed 16 members of his team, said he wanted to play hockey again? On Friday he was back on the ice playing sledge hockey, his first time skating since the crash. 

Bits & Pieces

Cardinals pitcher Daniel Poncedeleon is set to make his major league debut today, 14 months after he was hit in the head by a line drive and forced to undergo emergency brain surgery. ... Jordan Spieth probably wishes the bad haircut was the worst part of his weekend in Scotland. ... Everyone hates their cable provider, but do you hate yours enough to smash your modem in front of their office? ... Two guys in Pittsburgh were charged with stealing $8 million in rare books. ... A woman attempting to smuggle 10 pounds of heroin into the U.S. tried to disguise it as a roasted chicken.

Hell. Yes.

The Ducks are finally bringing back the jerseys they never should have gotten rid of in the first place.

This kid is going to be so fun in the majors

Dueling creepshots

Kirk Cousins vs. Alex Smith

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A post shared by Kirk Cousins (@kirkcousins)

Can this kid be the Yankees’ fifth starter?

He’s got better control than Sonny Gray.

Here’s why being an NFL head coach is so hard

It just means more

Roll Tide? More like Geaux Tigers 😂 pic.twitter.com/bHBqCxzDPP

— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) July 23, 2018

Still a good dog

What it’s like to be a part of the action

If you want to make your palms sweat this morning

A good song

Email dan.gartland@simail.com with any feedback or ping me on Twitter. Bookmark this page to see previous editions of Hot Clicks and find the newest edition every day. Visit our Extra Mustard page throughout each day for more offbeat sports stories.