For a cause, player is way out of uniform

Offer a steak to Tony Gonzalez and the Atlanta Falcons’ tight end, a vegan, will opt for fruits, vegetables or smoothies.

Offer a fur coat to Gonzalez and, well . . .

Gonzalez appeared nude with his wife, October, in photographs released Wednesday for an ad campaign titled “Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur” promoting People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

“We should be protecting animals, not sacrificing their lives for the sake of fashion or luxury,” Gonzalez told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “October and I have changed many of our habits in light of the inhumane treatment of animals that occurs not only in the fur industry but also on factory farms.”

Teammates say they admire Gonzalez’s activism but want to see the photos for different reasons.

Cornerback Chris Houston told CBSSports.com he’s excited to see Gonzalez’s wife. Cornerback Tye Hill suggested the ad will become bulletin board material.

“I’m sure he’ll get some ripping for [posing nude] once everyone knows about it,” Hill told CBSSports.com. “But he has a lot of years on a lot of guys so I don’t know how much ripping he’ll get.”

Trivia question

Which conference has the most men’s college basketball championships this decade?

Out of time

Denver Nuggets guard Chauncey Billups had the last laugh, and not just because his free throw sealed a 90-89 victory Tuesday against the Chicago Bulls.

With .3 of a second on the clock, Chicago forward Brad Miller caught an inbounds pass from Kirk Hinrich and buried a jumper from the top of the key. After reviewing the play, referees ruled Miller didn’t release the ball in time.

It was the Bulls’ premature celebration that left Billups with the chuckles.

“I was laughing because they were dancing and jumping around like they had just made the Sweet 16,” he said.

Toughest critic

Syracuse men’s basketball Coach Jim Boeheim appeared on Dan Patrick’s radio show this week talking less about his 800th career win and more about the Orange’s exhibition loss last week to Le Moyne, a Division II school.

Boeheim said his toughest critic met him at the door of his home.

“ ‘Dad, you stink,” Boeheim said his son told him. “ ‘Your team stinks. How can you lose to Le Moyne?’ ”

Trivia answer

The Atlantic Coast Conference has won four men’s basketball championships since 2000: Duke in 2001, Maryland in 2002 and North Carolina in 2005 and this year.

And finally

The Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Tony Grossi mused on Browns quarterback Brady Quinn being the starter for Monday night’s game against the Baltimore Ravens: “If Eric Mangini’s future as Browns coach is to be determined over the final eight games, how ironic is it that his fate is in the hands of Quinn -- the quarterback he benched after only 2 1/2 games?”

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mark.medina@latimes.com

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