-- In Women's World Cup soccer news, Denmark officials caught a Chinese man behind a two-way mirror videotaping a Denmark strategy meeting before playing China. Team China was not involved, according to representative Li Ying Belichick ... Lions have been a pleasant surprise. Last time they made the playoffs, their quarterback arrived late for the game because his Model-T broke down ... Maybe O.J. Simpson's defense will be that he was merely collecting exhibits for the O.J. Simpson Library ... Former Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann: "The word 'genius' isn't applicable in football. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein" ... Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce, who blasts an air horn in the locker room every time a reporter asks him a question about the inconsistent defense, was walking across the team parking lot recently and was almost run over by an 18-wheeler ... On a refreshing note, Rams linebacker Will Witherspoon and Panthers linebacker Dan Morgan are Michael Vick opposites--they sponsor programs to rescue stray dogs and cats ... Did you know the Raiders have drafted 26 quarterbacks in their history and only one--Kenny Stabler--has started for them for more than one season?
-- USF coach Jim Leavitt and his talented football team deserve a ton of credit. This team does not have the five-star blue chip players that coach Nick Saban has at Alabama. Ex-Miami Dolphin legendary guard Bob Kuechenberg called Saban immoral and a coward for leaving the Dolphins last year. Incidentally, former Ohio State hoops star Greg Oden's "academic" schedule last year: Sociology 101, History of Rock & Roll and basketball for an unbelievable 12 credits. Perhaps Alabama has a course for its football players such as Team Mascots--Are They Really Big Animals?
-- According to Orve Johannson, Babe Ruth hit only one home run in the minor leagues.
-- We were on the 18th floor of an office building last week and saw something plunging downward. Turns out it was the Mets! ... Yankees' Alex Rodriguez, Jason Giambi and Derek Jeter made $72.7 mil this season, more than the entire roster of eight National League clubs ... Dump ESPN broadcasters Rick Sutcliffe and Joe Morgan and give Ron Darling and Tony Gwynn more games.
-- And finally, Vera Bouchard's neighbor Harry just got back from a pleasure trip. He took his mother-in-law to the airport.
(Some of the information in this column was obtained from other news organizations)
