Serena Williams or Serena Williamsova?

From Russia, with 30-love:

"Everyone is from Russia," noted Serena Williams, scanning the women's tennis scene. "Sometimes I think I'm from Russia, too. I feel like, you know, OK, all these new 'ovas. I think my name must be Williamsova."

Pop quiz

The Confederations Cup is:

a) the soccer tournament in which the upstart U.S. nearly upset Brazil for the title;

b) the clever device that once kept Stonewall Jackson from getting injured on the saddle horn.

Can-do attitude

Indy Racing League driver Tony Kanaan, trying to break the monotony before Saturday's SunTrust Indy Challenge in Richmond, Va., offered to front half the bounty to anyone who could spend an hour inside a porta-potty in near-100-degree heat with vents closed.

Aaron Godnai, an IRL national sales manager, did the deed — and walked away $1,000 richer.

Or as AP's Mike Harris put it: "Flush with cash."

Beyond Octomom

New from Reebok: NFL maternity T-shirts featuring team logos and such ditties as "Rookie," "#1 NFL Draft Pick 2030," "Mom's Tiny Kicker" and "Fan Pending."

So keep an eye out for the shrink-wrapped 11-pack — the Travis Henry Special — at a Costco near you.

Deja Ru

So was that really Ricky Rubio who got drafted by the Timberwolves, or Robbie Benson from "One on One"?

The Yankee Gripper

Yankees pitcher Phil Coke is a rasslin' fanatic, even more so after witnessing a Florida Championship Wrestling match.

"I got to watch behind-the-scenes stuff and practice," Coke told the Middletown (N.Y.) Times Herald-Record. "It's just amazing. It's real because you have to put up lot of time into learning not how to kill someone by accident."

Rollin', rollin', rollin'

Newspaper editors' morning-line favorite to lead the daily California League roundup: the Visalia Rawhide.

Talking the talk

• David Thomas of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, after Cowboys offensive linemen Leonard Davis, Marc Colombo and Cory Procter formed a heavy metal band and named it Free Reign: "At least they didn't choose False Start."

• White Sox Sox broadcaster Steve Stone, after Cubs catcher Mario Soto hit a three-run homer after news broke that Soto had tested positive for marijuana at the World Baseball Classic: "He smoked it."

• NBC's Jimmy Fallon, on the Swiss adventurer trying to fly a solar-powered plane around the world: "He's just praying that nothing bad will happen ... like night."

Heavy metal

Grand marshal for July 12's Honda Indy Toronto: rock legend Gene Simmons.

Gentlemen, KISS your engines.

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