-- Jackie Robinson, thank you for your struggles and courage ... The Dodgers have turned their right field pavilion into an all-you-can-eat section (unlimited hamburgers, hots, fries, nachos, etc.) called Lasordaville. The left field pavilion will be converted into the Liposuction Section ... When Roger Clemons is inducted into Cooperstown, he will probably show up halfway through the ceremony ... Giants' Barry Bond's son Nikolai, who rarely played catch with his dad and lacks the lofty ambition for the game, wants to attend college and get a degree in business. Sharp kid! ... 61-year-old Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer on his recent wedding proposal: "I didn't have a problem getting down on my knee, but I had a heck of a problem getting back up."
-- College baseball's shaky academics are now on a par with football and basketball. Cutting their season short may help.
-- Delores Nichelson tells us the smallest owl in the world is the elf owl from the southwest U.S., weighing 1.75 oz.
-- Sure didn't seem like it but in 2006 there was a 20 percent decrease in the number of penalties called in the NFL ... Broadcaster Joe Theisman got the boot from Monday Night Football due to edgy chemistry with fellow announcer Tony Kornheiser--kind of like the relationship between Sponge Bob Squarepants and his neighbor, Squidward ... Note to our Bucs: Since 2002, only Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Donovan McNabb and Ben Roethlisberger have better records than Jake Plummer's 40-18.
-- Recent article in GQ magazine called Phil Mickelson "the most hated man in golf" selected by national golf writers. At this year's Master's, he signed autographs after each round for at least 45 minutes each day--longer than any of his colleagues. He gives millions to charities and is quick to acknowledge applause, usually with a smile or tip of his visor. Bum rap! ... THe LPGA will begin drug testing its golfers next season. That leaves only two types of athletes above reproach--male golfers and pro wrestlers.
-- Has college basketball become too physical? Many more bloody faces than there used to be, a lot like the NBA ... Pistons guard Lindsey Hunter was suspended 10 games after testing positive for phentermine and explained he grabbed his wife's diet pills by mistake. Dangerous--but on the plus side, Lindsey has never tested positive for pregnancy.
-- In closing, Tom Tabor's favorite machine at the gym is the vending machine.
(Some of the information in this column was obtained from other news organizations)
