That beagle upstages Clemens for a little bit

It was in the cards for Uno. Many of you, if not most, know about Uno by now. He's the beagle the adorable, "feel-good" creature who spared us Wednesday from fully taking in the unsettling scene of less-adorable baseball superstar and alleged substance-user Roger Clemens making up new words during a Congressional hearing.

Uno is the most famous beagle since Snoopy. He may be bigger than Snoopy because he's real. He's the first beagle to ever win "Best in Show" in 131 tries at the Westminster Kennel Club's Dog show.

He continues an incredible year of the underdog in sport Appalachian State beating Michigan, Gardner-Webb knocking of Kentucky, the New York Giants upsetting the Patriots in the Super Bowl. Charley Brown finally getting the prize in the Super Bowl ad.

Yep, a real dog like one you would immediately take from the pound and put in the pickup becoming top dog at the most prestigious canine beauty contest in the world.

It's pretty unnerving to see the winners at these contests look more like candidates for a Will Ferrell movie than a real dog.

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This winner had real bite, not fru-fru

Apparently, Uno captivated the crowd at Madison Square Garden the minute he walked into the area. He pranced north and south like he owned the place. His tale often went swung merrily from east to west.

He was the rock star. His presence was captivating. He had "it," however you define "it" in the canine world.

He was a real dog.

At least five people I know, including my wife, have admitted to uttering something like, "I want him!" when they first saw the beagle on the telecast.

David Frei, the longtime analyst for the USA Network said when Uno took his time around the ring for the judge, "it was the loudest I've heard the crowd in my 19 years of watching this event."

If Dr. J. Donald Jones, the judge, hadn't pick Uno, he might have had dog food thrown at him.

But he also caught the presence.

And he knew he had it. He howled and bayed during the awards presentation. He continued his baying continuing on the "Today" show the next day, one of a round of appearances.

"He's the most perfect beagle I've ever seen," Jones said later. "If you saw him, that perfectly smooth locomotion not one muscle went the wrong way. Look at his face and you'd melt right away."

While Jones was being interviewed, Uno howled, then hopped over the judge to get to his water bowl.

Yep, a real dog.

(Sports columnist David McCollum can be reached at 505-1235 or david.mccollum@thecabin.net)