Morning briefing

It could turn into a training fad

The Boston Marathon is Monday, meaning thousands of runners will prepare for the 26.2-mile race by loading up on carbohydrates this weekend -- staples such as pasta and bread.

Some runners won’t have that option.

Rabbi Jonah Pesner, who will be in the race, is facing that unleavened staple -- matzo.

The eight-day Passover holiday begins Saturday and strict dietary rules forbid leavened foods. So no carb-heavy macaroni or pancakes.

Pesner noted that matzo also has a binding effect.

“It’s definitely a concern,” he said, chuckling.

But the rabbi, who is running for charity, also admitted he planned to pound down potatoes during a “carb-load Seder.”

Trivia time

Jean Driscoll holds the record for most Boston Marathon victories, winning the wheelchair division eight times. What is special about the wheelchair division at the Boston Marathon?

Off the bench

Gabe Kapler was a minor league manager last year, but now he’s a major league hassle for opposing pitchers.

Kapler managed Class-A Greenville in the Boston Red Sox organization last season but came out of retirement and signed with the Milwaukee Brewers.

His time on the bench seems to have helped. In 26 at-bats through Tuesday, he was batting .423 with four home runs and 11 runs batted in.

“I just think overall it gives you a different perspective on how to approach an at-bat, how to approach a day,” Kapler said. “I wouldn’t try to label it surreal, spectacular. I’m just playing baseball.”

Burying the gauntlet

Taylor Wood and Steve Conway are sworn enemies -- Wood is a USC graduate and Conway is a UCLA alum. But sometimes, money talks.

The two are teaming in the Ultimate Game, a $1-million golf shootout that begins April 29 at PGA West in La Quinta.

It makes it easier that Wood and Conway are longtime friends who played together at Santa Margarita High.

“We were boys before,” Wood said. “Any other UCLA Bruin, it’d be tough.”

Saving face

The “Sean Avery rule” was implemented Monday by the NHL after the New York Rangers forward unabashedly face-guarded New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur, complete with hand and stick waving, during a playoff game.

It’s now an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty to do what he did, and even Avery’s teammates agree on the rule.

“It’s a gentleman’s game, much like golf,” Rangers backup goalie Stephen Valiquette said. “I wouldn’t have been happy if it had happened to me. . . . Sean would have been picking his teeth up off the ice if it was me.”

Sounds as if Avery might want to start guarding his own face.

Comes with popcorn

Video gaming website Gamestop.com has some inside scoop on a new feature for Madden NFL ‘09: User-controlled celebrations.

A simple press of the celebrate button will result in players breaking out in dance or dunking over the goal post. Specific stadiums will feature local celebrations, such as the “Lambeau Leap” and players who are known for end-zone antics will perform as they do in real life.

“For example, a player like Terrell Owens has more than 10 of his familiar celebrations available,” the website reported.

Trivia answer

The Boston Marathon was the first to include a wheelchair division -- in 1975.

And finally

The Bear Trace, a golf course near a prison in Clifton, Tenn., has been sold and is expected to shut down because of a lack of use.

“Apparently, not enough inmates were getting time off for good behavior,” wrote Geoff Russell in Golf World magazine.

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peter.yoon@latimes.com