Harrington wouldn’t mind being in jet set

As far as ambition goes, British Open champion Padraig Harrington has set himself quite a goal.

The 36-year-old Irish golfer told the Sunday Times of London that he wants to own a private jet, so that his transatlantic commutes to tournaments are easier and more comfortable.

Winning the Open will no doubt lead to more lucrative sponsorship contracts, but a $45-million jet?

“If I had any financial motive, that would be a little carrot,” Harrington said. “Warren Buffett calls his plane ‘The Great Unjustifiable.’ I don’t think I will be able to justify it either.”

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Trivia time

Jamaica has produced a host of world-class male sprinters over the last six decades, but only three have won individual Olympic gold medals. Who were they?

Wind power

The NBA, with all the time in the world to think of something original, has filed for trademark rights to six pretty lame nicknames for its Oklahoma City franchise: Barons, Bison, Energy, Marshalls, Thunder and Wind.

Tim Cowlishaw of the Dallas Morning News is no fan of singular nicknames, writing that they are “very confusing” for the sportswriters.

“If Dwyane Wade plays for the Heat,” Cowlishaw wrote, “what does that make him? A Hot?”

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Halfway there

Jockey Kent Desormeaux rode his 5,000th winner Sunday, this one at Saratoga in New York, but to put the three-time Kentucky Derby winner’s latest victory in perspective, it still leaves him only halfway to catching Russell Baze.

In February, Baze became the first jockey in North America to reach 10,000 wins.

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Spreading the word

After Duke of Marmalade, a great-grandson of the famed Northern Dancer, had won the Grade I King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in England on Saturday, The Australian couldn’t resist the headline.

“The Duke has rivals on toast” the Aussie newspaper wrote.

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Trivia answer

Arthur Wint in the 400 meters in 1948, George Rhoden in the 400 meters in 1952, and Don Quarrie in the 200 meters in 1976.

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And finally

From Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times: “It shouldn’t be too difficult to spot Hiroshi Hokestu, Japan’s 67-year-old equestrian, at next month’s Olympic Games. Look for the horse with only a left blinker on.”

grahame.jones@latimes.com