-- Back in the 70s, Oriole outfielder Pat Kelly, known for his religious conviction, approached his fiery manager Earl Weaver and asked, "Don't you want me to walk with the Lord?" Weaver replied, "I'd rather you walk with the bases loaded" ... Now that we've chosen the all-time Latin American major league team, how about an all-time Negro League team? ... Indians pitcher Paul Byrd was recently signing autographs when his eight-year-old son Colby, who was watching, blurted out, "Dad, you're average. If you were any good, you'd be on the Yankees" ... Thought by now Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett would be on the DL with blisters ... Parking in a lot on Boylston Street near Fenway Park was costing fans $90 a car. Do they get a tuneup and tire rotation for that? ... Mets closer Billy Wagner last year received $276,315 per save and $35,353 per batter. Insane! ... Orioles' first baseman Kevin Millar loves bats. He has over 500 hanging on the walls of his home (300 are signed) ...Fun names of minor league teams: Traverse City Beach Bums, Evansville Otters, Lincoln Saltdogs, Sioux Falls Canaries and, our favorite, the Augusta Greenjackets.
-- Maritza Silva tells us the world's largest flower is the Rafflesia, which is three feet in diameter.
-- Steeler tackle Max Starks did something special with four of his Super Bowl tickets (each player got 15). He presented them to a family affected by the mining tragedy in Sago, West Virginia, a while back. Class act! ... Seahawks' defensive tackle Marcus Tubbs' most embarassing moment ever: "The time I used the hairspray as deodorant" ... Glen Zimmerman, 40, feels he must be the biggest Bears fan in town. Last summer he had "Go Bears" painted on the roof of his home and car. "My wife Vicky thinks I'm nuts," he conceded. Really?
-- Notre Dame football coach Charlie Weis sums up his top five recruiting class: "We got good kids that can read and write."
-- Cavaliers center Zydrunas Ilgauskas after a lengthy road trip: "You know you haven't been home a lot when your dog barks at you" ... Clippers will charge up to $1,200 for a single-game ticket next season.
-- Did you know the Ladies Golf Club of Toronto, since it opened in 1924, has never admitted a male member and they boast they never will? ... Michelle Wie shot a 64 as a 10-year-old.
-- Brazilian soccer star Roberto Carlos was once mugged while doing a live radio interview.
-- In closing, Rich Tobin has lost his gray and white male cat. He says it will answer to an electric can opener.
(Some of the information in this column was obtained from other news organizations)