Hey gamblers, here's an egg-cellent idea

Looking for a new place to lay a bet?

What is being billed as the World Egg-Throwing Championships are set for Swaton, England, on June 25. There will be the usual two-person event at increasing distances, according to the event's Web site, along with an 11-person speed relay in which relay members are spaced 10 meters apart. You'll be relieved to learn that the tenets of the World Egg-Throwing Federation include preventing "all methods or practices which might jeopardize the integrity of games or competitions or give rise to the abuse of egg-throwing sport," which we take to include teenage drive-bys.

Hey, what other sport can truly claim that its over-the-hill competitors are merely shells of their former selves?

Hit with a 2-by-12

The Seahawks' 12th Man and Texas A&M's 12th Man remain intact after the sides settled their legal differences this week.

Next up: The two 12th Men team up to sue Jack Bauer and Fox-TV, claiming they now own the trademark use of "24."

Pass the boos

Ex-Red Sox outfielder Rick Miller, set to join Johnny Bench, Bill Mazeroski and other former big-leaguers at the Swing with the Legends golf tournament in Concord, Mass., admits he's nervous about playing in front of Boston fans again.

"It's totally different in golf because the crowd is so quiet," Miller told The Associated Press. "I'd rather they cheer and make some noise and call me a bum. I'd be back in my element."

Talking the talk

• Reggie Hayes of the Fort Wayne (Ind.) News-Sentinel, on California Gov. Arnold Schwarzengger asking the NFL to put two teams in Los Angeles: "No matter how many times I hear that, it sounds preposterous. But it's true: Arnold Schwarzenegger really is the governor of California."

• Brooks Melchior of sportsbybrooks.com, on a New York Times report that Fox's ratings for postponed NASCAR races have twice trounced NBA games on ABC: "The only other people that get that excited for rainouts are Kansas City Royals fans."

• Times reader Bill Littlejohn, on Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger going to Switzerland to trace his ancestry: "Think a Swiss watch begat Big Ben?"

• Michael Lough of the Macon (Ga.) Telegraph, on Barbaro's 6 ½-length victory in the Kentucky Derby: "And anyway, don't the most suspense-filled two minutes in sports involve Barry Bonds and a cup?"

Roger, and ouch

The Connecticut Defenders are giving away rehab bobblehead dolls — complete with a bandage on the appropriate body part — to commemorate the big-leaguers who spent injury time with the Class AA club when it was a Yankees affiliate, the Norwich Bulletin reported.

But most serious collectors say they'll skip the Andy Pettitte elbow, David Cone shoulder and Bernie Williams knee — and go straight for the Roger Clemens groin pull.

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