Tammy Wynette gave him a hand with this spelling

This linebacker might regret ever giving the D-line a try.

The divorce line, that is. South Florida's Ben Moffitt, who figures to be a middle-round NFL draft pick this spring, wants out of his 5 ½-year marriage to his high-school sweetheart. But Shauna Moffitt isn't letting him go quietly, saying he left her and their two kids Nov. 11 and isn't the devout family man that school publicists have portrayed him to be.

"Ben Moffitt has never written a paper. Never. Ever," she told the Tampa Tribune. "I love him, but he doesn't know how to spell. He cheats. ...

"We were a team. I did the papers in order for Ben to play. I'd write his paper, and he'd go clean the kitchen."

Pot meets kettle

The Dakar Rally, a 5,760-mile car and motorcycle race across Africa and southwest Europe, has been canceled this year, organizers say, because of concerns over terrorist attacks.

This from a race that has racked up 49 deaths in 29 years.

Strike up the bands

Bill Walton worships the Grateful Dead; Shawn Kemp was a big Pearl Jam fan.

Some other sports/music naturals, courtesy of Cam Hutchinson of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix:

• "Joe Namath: KISS.

• "Pacman Jones: .38 Special.

• "Travis Henry: Supertramp.

• "Roger Clemens: Spin Doctors.

• "Marv Albert: Alice in Chains.

• "Tom Brady: Nirvana."

Yoko Romo update

Is Dallas quarterback Tony Romo worried that Cowboys fans will blame a playoff loss to the Giants today on him and siren Jessica Simpson?

"Yeah, maybe," wrote Bryan Burwell of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "But he still gets to go home to Jessica, and they don't.

"Advantage Romo."

Latest developments

Won't be long before the latest NFL team highlight films start rolling out.

Fans of the 16-0 Patriots will have their choice of the usual DVD or VHS, while the 1-15 Dolphins version comes in your choice of glossy or matte finish on the 8-by-10 photo.

You make the call

The NBA suspended Knicks forward Zach Randolph for one game for throwing his headband at a referee.

"Various accounts have the headband either hitting the ref or landing just short of his feet," noted Vancouver, B.C., comedian Torben Rolfsen. "Considering it's the Knicks, I think it's a safe bet which version is correct."

Talko time

• Christopher Bowman, two-time U.S. figure-skating champ found dead last week at age 40, discussing his 10-year cocaine addiction in the book "Inside Edge" by Christine Brennan: "I did everything. I mean, I was a human garbage pail. You name it and I would try it, because to me I was invincible."

• Jaguars defensive end Paul Spicer, to AP, on playing the "Spygate" Patriots in the AFC playoffs Saturday: "I ain't worried about them with a camera. They can use my camera. I've got a nice Sony digital if they want to borrow it."

• Paul Merson, British TV soccer commentator, on Middlesbrough flirting with demotion to a lower division seemingly every season: "If you keep walking past the barbers, eventually you'll get a haircut."

• Times reader Janice Hough, on O.J. Simpson's arrest for allegedly violating terms of his bail: "Proving that what happens in Vegas may mean you stay in Vegas."

Jacobs latter

Jacobs Field will henceforth be called Progressive Field after the auto-insurance giant secured the naming rights to Cleveland's baseball stadium.

In a related story, deposits on Indians season tickets are now known as $500 deductibles.

Sideline Chatter appears Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Dwight Perry: 206-464-8250 or dperry@seattletimes.com