His name is Red, but he definitely operates in the black.

Minnesota Vikings owner Red McCombs figures to get maybe $600 million if he sells the team for which he paid $246 million just six years ago.

And he wouldn't have any qualms about selling it.

"I've always said that I've never owned anything. I'm a salesman," wrote McCombs in his autobiography, "The Red Zone — Cars, Cows and Coaches."

"I've only signed one lifetime contract, and that was with (wife) Charline. So far, I'm pleased to say, she hasn't tried to renegotiate it."

Philly fanatics

Three takes on Philadelphia's hard-boiled fans:

• Red Sox manager Terry Francona, as quoted by the Dayton (Ohio) Daily News: "Hey, I spent four years managing in Philadelphia. On Fan Appreciation Day, someone slashed my tires in the parking lot."

• Slogan on the official Eagles Fan Club Web site, www.eaglesfanclub.com: "Where the fans are tougher than the players!"

• Ian O'Connor of the Journal News of Westchester, N.Y., on ESPN's "The Sports Reporters": "The Eagles are the only team in the sport who actually want to score early to take their own fans out of the game."

Not a good sign

City of Anaheim lawyers' first hint that Superior Court Judge Peter Polos probably wouldn't prevent the Angels from renaming themselves the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim?

When Polos welcomed them to "the Los Angeles Superior Court of Orange County."

Book 'em, Horns

The University of Texas has hired veteran political consultant Nick Voinis to fill the newly created position of senior associate athletics director for communications.

Voinis immediately vowed the Longhorns would win the media-guide battle — not only in all the surrounding red states but also in the swing states of Florida and Ohio.

Talking the talk

• Dan Daly of the Washington Times, on former U.S. skating champion Christopher Bowman getting sentenced to 18 months of probation for having a gun while drunk in his apartment: "The judge ordered Bowman to perform community service, commit to a 30-day in-patient substance program and 'stop wearing those ridiculous sequins in the courtroom.' "

• Gregg Drinnan of the Kamloops (B.C.) Daily News, wondering where the CFL got a windfall all of a sudden: "Why else would it hold its winter meetings in Palm Beach, Fla.? Like, perhaps, the hotels in Regina are all full?"

• From the Caught on the Fly column in The Sporting News, with thoughts turning to spring training: "Let's start the countdown: Only 22 days till pitchers, catchers and urinalysis technicians report."

• Mike Bianchi of The Orlando Sentinel, on criticism that Jacksonville police crack down on vagrants for public drunkenness but tolerate soused football fans: "As someone wise once said: Beauty lies in the hands of the beer-holder."

Perish the thought

Turns out that John Madden was ABC's first choice to perform in that infamous "Desperate Housewives" skit, ABC entertainment president Stephen McPherson told The Associated Press.

Here's hoping it wasn't for the towel-dropper's role.

Dwight Perry: 206-464-8250 or dperry@seattletimes.com