Jim Leyland came out behind

Talk about a bad case of cigarette butt.

Ex-umpire Sonny Fulks recalled a minor-league game in the 1970s when chain-smoker Jim Leyland, then managing the Lakeland (Fla.) Tigers, had just fired one up when Fulks called a balk on Leyland's pitcher.

"He ran out on the field to argue and jammed the cigarette in the hip pocket of his pants, which were double-knit," Fulks told the Dayton (Ohio) Daily News. "By the time he got to second base, it had melted a hole in the seat and he was really smoking.

"He didn't stay long. He wasn't wearing underwear, and I mean his [rear end] was hangin' out."

Looking out for No. 2

News flash, from SportsPickle.com: "Sen. John McCain welcomed the Tampa Bay Rays to the south lawn of the Russell Senate Office Building today to congratulate them on being runner-up in the World Series."

20-something Seattle

Seattle came in 28th in the latest Centers for Disease Control rankings of the healthiest U.S. metropolitan areas, WebMD.com reported, continuing a disturbing trend this year in which Seattle finished 29th in the NBA standings and 29th in Major League Baseball.

On the upside, though, we're currently tied for 23rd in the NFL.

Knotty or nice?

Just a hunch, but Donovan McNabb might be getting a whole bunch of ties for Christmas.

Leading indicators

"The Boston Red Sox are freezing ticket prices for all seats in 2009," noted Elliott Harris of the Chicago Sun-Times, "which is another way to figure out the economy is not so hot.

"The Philadelphia Phillies are raising ticket prices. Which is another way to figure out who won the World Series."

He loves Heidi

Raiders special-teamer Preston Ridlehuber, who scooped up a Jets fumble on a kickoff and returned it for a touchdown to cap the celebrated "Heidi" game 40 years ago, still has that game ball.

"People say I should be in the Hall of Fame," said Ridlehuber, whose NFL career lasted 22 games. "I haven't been to Canton to see."

Writers' bloc

• Steve Schrader of the Detroit Free Press, on the 0-10 Lions' prospects of selling out their remaining home games other than Thanksgiving: "Lions tickets would make great stocking-stuffers if they ever played in January."

• Headline in the South Bend (Ind.) Tribune, after Notre Dame reserves nearly blew a 27-7 lead against the Midshipmen in the final 10 minutes: "Leave the subs to Navy."

• Mr. Flip of the Baltimore Sun's Flip Side column, on why he hopes to see Maryland women's basketball highlights on ESPN: "Because then we might hear Trey Wingo talking about Drey Mingo."

• Reggie Hayes of the Fort Wayne (Ind.) News-Sentinel, on the Packers' 37-3 pounding of the Bears on Sunday: "Chicago's defense looked so old and outdated, it's been renamed 'The Munsters of the Midway.' "

Envelope, please

Olympic champion Michael Phelps capped his record-breaking year with three Golden Goggle Awards at the USA Swimming banquet, which is not to be confused with Amanda Beard's citation for most Internet searches.

(That's the Golden Google.)

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