He finds these items tasteless

Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown and former NBA star Larry Johnson are backing a new business that manufactures food products such as “Thug Chips” and “Party Dogg” drinks, and that doesn’t sit well with New York Councilman Leroy Comrie.

Comrie claimed that the manufacturer’s name, OG Nation, stands for “original gangster” and accused the company of exploiting urban youth by glorifying violence.

“They’re trying to mainstream the gangster lifestyle and the criminal lifestyle,” he said.

The company responded with a scathing written response that pointed out Brown’s record of anti-gang activism.

It said the accusations represented “the most insidious kind of racism, because it masquerades as piety, when it’s really just political grandstanding.”

Trivia time

Despite being selected as a unanimous college All-American as a senior at Syracuse, Brown was selected sixth in the 1957 NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns. What five players were selected ahead of him?

Party crashers

New York Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey is throwing a New Year’s Eve party at a New York nightclub, but it seems somebody is trying to pilfer from Shockey’s guest list.

A recent ad on Craigslist.org read: “Manhattan’s hottest, newest nightclub is hosting Jeremy Shockey’s New Year’s Eve Party and we want to surround his guys with the city’s hottest girls. If you think you can dress, dance, and drink the part, then please send one head and one body shot to . . . “

Natalia Sokolova, the official organizer of Shockey’s party, told New York Newsday that the contact person listed in the Craigslist ad is incorrect.

“None of the people involved have any idea who that is,” she told the paper.

Unfinished business

Among the 900 graduates walking across stage at the University of Alabama commencement ceremony Saturday was Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath.

“Broadway Joe” won a national title with the Crimson Tide in 1964 but quit school and went to the NFL. Namath said he always regretted not finishing his degree, particularly because of a promise to his mother.

“It was a hole in my being, an empty spot, because I did tell someone I would finish,” Namath said.

Namath completed 30 hours over the last five years and received a bachelor of arts degree in interdisciplinary studies.

Fore-warned

In an interview published in the December issue of Golf Digest, actor Jack Nicholson, 70, claims that his career low round was a 64, but, he admitted, “it might’ve been 65.”

Further investigating revealed that it might have been even higher as Nicholson revealed his personal rules, among them:

* “No double bogeys on the first six holes.”

* “Under pressure, I’ll cheat ya.”

* “Any green in regulation, the second putt is called goo-oo-ood.”

But his most important rule?

“Nobody in my group gets to carry a cellphone,” he said. “The course is no place to do business. . . . We’re here to play golf.”

Money for nothing

Arizona basketball Coach Lute Olson probably won’t coach a game this season while on personal leave, but he’ll still be paid a $738,000 base salary.

Arizona Athletic Director Jim Livengood said Olson’s salary comes from the athletic budget and uses no state funding or taxpayer dollars. Olson’s contract contains no special provisions for paid leave.

Former U.S. Sen. Dennis DeConcini, a member of the Arizona Board of Regents, said he understands why some would question Olson’s treatment.

“But Lute Olson isn’t the average Joe,” DeConcini told the Arizona Republic on Friday. “He’s a pristine celebrity. He’s brought Arizona millions of dollars of publicity and dollars and funds for successful basketball.”

Trivia answer

Paul Hornung, Green Bay Packers; Jon Arnett, Los Angeles Rams; John Brodie, San Francisco 49ers; Ron Kramer, Green Bay Packers; and Len Dawson, Pittsburgh Steelers.

And finally

Ron Artest of the Sacramento Kings became master of the obvious after the Kings dropped to 1-10 on the road with a 92-79 loss Saturday at Washington.

“We got 79?” he said. “Gosh, we’ve got to play better.”

--

peter.yoon@latimes.com