Shawn Johnson gets engaged; NBA players are too good at basketball carnival games


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SALT LAKE CITY — Welcome to From Left Field! Here's the most sharable fun things that happened this weekend in the world of sports.

1. NBA players can win too many carnival prizes

You've seen it at state fairs, amusement parks, or at other carnivals around the world: make a certain number of shots into a basketball hoop and win a prize. But because of either carnie trickery or nerves, most don't end up winning at all, leaving empty-handed.

But if you're former NBA player Gilbert Arenas, now is your time to shine.

The former Washington Wizard and holder of one of my favorite statistical oddities of all time (Arenas made a higher percentage of shots from 28-38 feet than when he was actually close to the 3-point line) went to the Orange County Fair this weekend when he decided to win a prize for his kids.

It went well.

[We just got banned from all the basketball hoops at #orangecountyfair...every one screamed #theRimsarebent I screamed #hibachi ...#ArenasFamily #CountyFairRockstars](https://instagram.com/p/5nqiTfPP1f/) A photo posted by @g.i.l.b.e.r.t.a.r.e.n.a.s on

According to Arenas, he is now banned from the Orange County Fair hoops game. That seems fair, as they probably had to close after he cleaned out all of their prizes.

2. Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson gets engaged

You may remember Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson dazzling fans in Beijing, winning gold on the balance beam and silver in all-around, floor exercise, and with her U.S. teammates.

Johnson retired from gymnastics in 2012, but has been in the public eye since, including appearances on "Dancing with the Stars", "Celebrity Apprentice", and "Whose Line Is It Anyway?"

This weekend, she threw out the first pitch at the Chicago Cubs game, and her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs player Andrew East, used the opportunity to propose:

[Congratulations to @ShawnJohnson and @AndrewDEast on their engagement before today's #Cubs game!](https://instagram.com/p/5iEDpTQIrb/) A video posted by cubs (@cubs) on

As always with sports-stadium engagements, it's good Johnson said yes. The alternative is super embarrassing.

3. Oh, man, appliance costumes turn out to be extremely dangerous

Hey! Kids! Dress up in these appliance costumes. You'll only fall on your face approximately twice, each.

I'm not sure what the lesson of the appliance race was supposed to be, but the one I learned was to avoid appliance costumes this Halloween.

4. A really good bicycle kick

OK, bicycle kicks are cool. Bicycle kick goals are especially cool. Curling, well-defended bicycle kick goals are brilliant.

This goal is a ridiculous intersection of skill and timing. There's no way to practice this. You get one shot, one opportunity. Would you capture it, or just let it slip?

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Andy Larsen

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