Sideline Chatter: Back in the day, refs' tweet went Bird's way

Stop the presses! NBA refs really do give stars preferential treatment?

Kevin McHale, now a TNT studio analyst, needed just one game into his Hall of Fame career with the Celtics to figure that out.

"I go up to do what I think is a good block, and they blow the whistle," McHale said. "They yell, 'Foul on No. 32.'

"I said, '32? You mean 33? Larry [Bird] is the one who fouled him.'

"He said, 'You want Larry to have three or you to have one?'

"I said, 'My foul!' "

Maim that tune

Queen's "We Will Rock You" was the most-played song at NFL, MLB and NHL games over a 12-month period ending June 30, according to Broadcast Music, Inc.

Some possible breakthrough hits at ballparks next season:

• Nationals ("Wasted Days and Wasted Nights")

• Dodgers ("She Got the Gold Mine, I Got the Shaft")

Wiener take all

Jets rookie QB Mark Sanchez, caught scarfing down a hot dog during the Raiders game, turned it into positive publicity when Hebrew National Hot Dogs offered anyone with a ticket stub from that game a free pack of wieners.

Noted Len Berman of LenBermanSports.com: "Fans attending this week's Jets game in the Meadowlands are hoping Sanchez drives a Mercedes on the sideline."

News flash

"This just in," reported Jim Armstrong of The Denver Post. "The Chiefs have put running back Larry Johnson on the physically-unable-to-think list."

If the shoe fits ...

City workers in Green Bay, in honor of waffling QB Brett Favre's return with the hated Vikings, were urged to wear flip-flop sandals on the job.

So what will Atlantans wear for Michael Vick's return in December — Hush Puppies?

Talko time

• Kerry Byrne of SI.com, on the NFL matching an infamous 39-year-old record last weekend with six blowouts of 28 points or more: "Week 7 of the 2009 season offered more televised beatings than the 1968 Democratic National Convention."

• Calgary blogger RJ Currie, after Vikings coach Brad Childress dressed up as a female flight attendant on a team flight: "Brett Favre couldn't decide whether to make a pass or not."

• Times reader Bill Littlejohn, on why ex-Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda is getting dragged into the owners' divorce case: "To coach Jamie on her opinion of Frank's performance."

It's in the bag

Hear about the trick-or-treater who made the rounds in Green Bay dressed up as Vikings defensive end Jared Allen?

The kid was roundly booed at every doorstep, but he still came home with 4 ½ sacks.

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