Sideline Chatter
He was good self-motivator, too

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Bill Yeoman — former Houston football coach, creator of the veer offense in 1965 and new inductee into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame — cited the inspirational contributions of Tom Wilson, "our one-legged trainer," during his induction speech last week.

Seems Wilson had this habit of motivating Cougars players, who were oblivious to his prosthesis, by jamming an ice pick into his wooden leg.

"Their eyes would get so big," said Yeoman, as quoted in the Austin American-Statesman. "Except one day, Tom accidentally stuck the ice pick in his good leg.

"He almost passed out."

Just call him Babe-Rod

Could it be the 21st Century Curse of the Bambino? Alex Rodriguez, all but Yankee-bound after the rival Red Sox failed to wrap him up, has heretofore worn jersey No. 3 — Babe Ruth's number.

Paging Bubba

"All the politicians have been speaking out on what the greatest issue of our time is," noted NBC's Jay Leno. "John Kerry says the economy is the most important issue.

"Bush says it's the homeland security issue.

"And Clinton says it's the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue."
 
A broom in the ratings

Must be sweeps week in Canada: CBC is stepping up its curling coverage.

Envelope, please

Sports figures who earned mention among Esquire magazine's fashion awards for 2003:

Best dressed: baseball's Rodriguez and football's Curtis Martin.

Worst dressed: CBS talking head Deion Sanders, the Oregon football team and anyone involved in NASCAR.

Political beanball

Democratic critics of President Bush's military record have widened their probe, saying they now question whether A-Rod ever reported for duty during his 22-day career as captain of the Texas Rangers.

Talking the talk

• Bill Scheft of Sports Illustrated, on why heavyweight champ Lennox Lewis' retirement announcement is no big deal: "Lewis had fought only two times in the last 20 months, and one of those fights was with a telemarketer."

• Comedian Alex Kaseberg, relaying the news that things just got worse for Mike Tyson, who claims he's down to his last $5,000: "Today, Tyson received a bill from Don King for $4,999."

• CBS's David Letterman, on the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show: "My favorite part of the show is when the winner drinks champagne out of the toilet."

Mother of all upsets

They said it couldn't be done, but Janet Jackson's handlers have finally uncovered the one league that just might be amenable to giving her another halftime gig.

The La Leche League.

— Dwight Perry, The Seattle Times

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company