Unexpected connections

This 1A story in today's USA Today shows what can happen when you think about common things in uncommon ways, as writer Skip Wood did here. You can make fresh connections that readers don't expect, and when they work, they're rewarding to read.

You can certainly argue that writers, including many sports writers, have worked some literary references to death, so it's a gamble to venture into that territory. But this story doesn't take itself too seriously, which I think is a key to making it work in this case. See what you think.