No word on hockey translation for ‘thug’

Charles Wang, the Shanghai-born owner of the New York Islanders, has hired announcers to call games in Mandarin.

But they’re apparently having trouble translating certain words and phrases into the Chinese language.

Thus, the Bruins have become the Brown Bears and the Panthers are Black Leopards.

Writes ESPN the Magazine: “At least the Far East will get a clear intro to the NHL’s best, Sid the Kid,” quoting announcer Justin Chang as explaining, “Everyone knows what a Penguin is.”

--

Trivia time

Who was the oldest jockey to win a Breeders’ Cup race, and how old was he?

--

Country kid

Toronto Maple Leafs Coach Ron Wilson will do what it takes to keep rookie Luke Schenn from getting homesick for rural Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Wilson explained to CanWest News: “We’ll make sure he gets plenty of DVDs of ‘Green Acres’ and maybe ‘The Beverly Hillbillies’ and shows like that, and he’ll be fine.”

--

Miserly Manny

If the Dodgers’ Manny Ramirez were a baseball fan you would find him in the cheap seats. Said the Baltimore Orioles’ Kevin Millar on “Best Damn Sports Show Period” of his former Red Sox teammate:

“Manny would have a tough time going to team dinners because he was scared to get the bill.”

--

Catch and shoot

Bob Knight, legendary for his controversial actions as well as his ability to teach basketball, told WFYI-TV in Indianapolis, “In college basketball, if you get caught cheating, they should shoot you because you’re too dumb to be alive.”

--

A fine mess

Has the NFL become too tame? Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that players are afraid to make hits like players they looked up to.

“When you see guys like Dick Butkus, the Ronnie Lotts, the Jack Tatums, these guys really went after people,” Polamalu said. “Now they couldn’t survive in this type of game. They wouldn’t have enough money. They’d be paying fines all the time. It’s ridiculous.”

--

Trivia answer

Bill Shoemaker, at age 56, won the Breeders’ Cup Classic aboard Ferdinand in 1987.

--

And finally

Dallas Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens, to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, on those who predict he’ll soon throw a tantrum now that the team has signed another star, Roy Williams: “They’re idiots.”

--

pete.thomas@latimes.com