Reggie Bush had the write stuff in high school

Back in his high-school days, Reggie Bush pursued a much more noble calling — sportswriting.

Bush, USC's star running back and likely Heisman Trophy winner, covered media day at Super Bowl XXXVII in his hometown of San Diego in 2003, interviewing Marcus Allen, Keyshawn Johnson and Terrell Davis, then writing a story about it for NFLHS.com. "When I first walked in, I didn't know what to expect," Bush told the L.A. Times' T.J. Simers. "The first person I walked past was Tony Siragusa, one of the greatest defensive linemen ever, and he was right there next to me."

Added Simers: "Who knew it would be the closest any defensive lineman would ever get to Bush again?"

Ancient Mariner

The Mariners waited until the last possible moment before announcing that ageless lefty Jamie Moyer, 43, had agreed to a one-year, $5.5 million contract.

The hangup, apparently, was the unusually thorough physical exam — specifically, the carbon-dating.

Rolling in the isles

Larry Beinfest, the Florida Marlins' general manager, confesses he's addicted to the TV show "Survivor."

"What a happy coincidence," wrote Kevin Baxter of the Miami Herald, "because for the past two weeks Beinfest has spent much of his time voting players off the Marlins' island."

Cash course

The Associated Press reported that Ohio State has reached a financial settlement with former student Kathleen Salyers, who says she spent "hundreds of thousands of dollars" supporting ex-Buckeyes basketball player Boban Savovic while working as a house-cleaner and babysitter for two OSU boosters.

Elsewhere on campus, 238 med school undergrads, saying they want more lucrative careers, have inexplicably switched their major to house-cleaning studies, with a minor in babysitting.

Talking the talk

• "Rich" of South Florida, to the Sports Business Journal, on why he created firedrewrosenhaus.com in honor of the agent for suspended Eagles receiver Terrell Owens: "For ruining my fantasy football team."

• Jerry Greene of the Orlando Sentinel, on an SI.com report that ESPN's Stephen A. Smith showed up at the USC-UCLA game with two bodyguards: "Apparently he feared someone actually has seen his show."

• Toronto comedian Frenchie McFarlane, on signs that Winter Olympic fever is spreading in his country: "In the colder regions of Canada, bank robbers are using speedskating for their getaways."

• NBC's Conan O'Brien, on Fidel Castro announcing that Cuba will play in next year's World Baseball Classic in Puerto Rico: "In fact, the team left on a raft this morning."

Look whose hair

Lilian Hosking, a big fan of Edmonton Oilers forward Ryan Smith, got a wish-come-true on her 101st birthday when he made a surprise visit to the Meadowcroft Seniors Residence and let her run her fingers through his flowing locks.

"I can't believe he's here," she told the Edmonton Sun. "I love to watch him skate up and down the ice and bang in goals. And I love his hair. I hope he never cuts it."

And as for Lilian's 102nd birthday wish, speculation is she'll want to mullet over.

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