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It'll be a ball figuring it out

	Sergei Fedorov
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Just think of it as Rugby Lotto — and some lucky dog has it in the bag.

Four Australians won drawings for game balls used in England's World Cup title win over Australia last month, but the question is: Which is the one Jonny Wilkinson used to boot the winning kick?

Since that ball was put into a sack with the others after the game, The Times of London reported, it might take forensic science — in a process known as flexure and wear analysis, by how often it was kicked — to identify the "Jonny Ball."

The wait will be worth it to the winner. The "Jonny Ball," an Anthemion Auctions spokesman said, might fetch $175,000.

Flower powered

Rams tackle Kyle Turley, who faces the Seahawks on Sunday, says being a defensive lineman is for mental midgets.

"Think about it," he told Sports Illustrated. "Getting to the ball is the only thing they have to do, which is good, because most of them don't have any brains.

"They don't have to think a whole lot, and their lives are pretty simple — just like geraniums."

Hey, it could have been worse. At least he didn't say pansies.

She's one tough card

Jennifer Harman is among the players featured on the Travel Channel's "World Poker Tour Ladies' Night," but don't let her 5-foot-2, 100-pound size fool you.

"It's a ruthless game," Harman told USA Today. "You suck their blood, then go bowling with them afterward."

Mark their words

• From the "Caught on the Fly" column in The Sporting News: "When Fly thinks of the standard-issue police car, the Chevy Caprice comes to mind. But you know what? Maybe a Blazer would be more appropriate."

• Sergei Fedorov of the Anaheim Ducks, to the Detroit Free Press, on the reaction of Detroit fans during his first visit since leaving the Red Wings: "I heard some words, but not the full phrases. They were negative. The cold war's over, you can tell them."

• Jim Armstrong of the Denver Post, on why you won't catch him knocking the flummoxed Bowl Championship Series: "The BCS creates arguments. If it weren't for arguments, there would be no need for two things in this life — bar stools and sports pages."

• NBC's Jay Leno, on the BCS brouhaha: "Believe me, people are outraged about this. I mean, that Florida thing, that was just about the presidency. This is college football!"

Double-Secret Probation, Part II

So what if Missouri president Elson Floyd declared Ricky Clemons persona non grata after the ex-Tigers basketball player wrecked an ATV in the prez's yard? Floyd's wife, Carmento, according to an Associated Press report, continued to accept Clemons' collect calls from jail behind her husband's back.

College historians quickly termed the revelation the biggest breach of upper-campus decorum since 1962, when Eric "Otter" Stratton bumped into Dean Wormer's wife in the produce section at the Faber Food King.

— Dwight Perry, The Seattle Times

Copyright © 2003 The Seattle Times Company