Wake-up call: Barack Obama, Brett Favre, Sean Avery

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First things first: Which way is the presidential election going to go? If baseball, specifically the teams in the World Series, provide any clue, then Barack Obama is ahead in the game. This year’s teams are from electoral swing states, Pennsylvania and that old hanging chad favorite Florida, yet the Democratic presidential candidate at the start of the playoffs said he was behind the Phillies: “I think that I’m going to have to root for Philly potentially because my campaign manager is a fanatical Phillies fan and I don’t want him mad at me for the next few weeks.” Despite that, a group of Tampa Bay Rays players are supporting Obama anyway and showed up Monday to prove it.

Legends vs. Steinbrenner: Monday’s Obama appearance took place at what was Legends Field, but Hank and Hal Steinbrenner in February said the field was being renamed George M. Steinbrenner Field in honor of their dad’s ‘longstanding philanthropic commitment to Tampa.’ The field is best known as the spring training home of the New York Yankees. But Obama’s press release and website still called it Legends. Well, Steinbrenner’s name may be on the stadium but his money is not apparently on Obama. Steinbrenner made a $15,000 contributionto Republican presidential candidate John McCain in May.

Glazer vs. Favre: Who is telling the truth? Did Brett Favre give away the Packers game plan to the Detroit Lions? Fox Sports reporter Jay Glazer this morning came on the Dan Patrick radio show and said again that he stands by his story ‘a million percent.’ According to Glazer, Favre called Detroit Lions coaches earlier this season and gave them a breakdown of the Packers’ offense. Glazer, who has been making the rounds defending his story (he was on the Jim Rome show on Monday), sounds convincing but declined to identify his source (or sources) for the story. Favre on Monday sent a text message to NBC’s Peter King denying the report. The Times Sam Farmer said Favre’s denial rings hollow. And if Favre did that, it isn’t illegal. Besides, the Packers beat the Lions, 48-25

Fired? Who, me? Monday at noontime, 49ers Coach Mike Nolan still occupied his office and apparently had no clue his job was in jeopardy. At his weekly media session, Nolan was asked about it but said only: ‘I’m not in a position to hire and fire Mike Nolan. That’s the ownership’s job.’ He was right about that.

He loves New York: Sean Avery, with the Rangers last season and now with the Dallas Stars, was back on the ice at Madison Square Garden last night. And little has changed except for the uniform. He was chirping at the Rangers all night long. The New York fans didn’t appreciate him so much now. ‘It’s the Garden,’ Avery said after the Dallas Stars’ 2-1 victory. ‘That’s why this is the greatest arena on Earth. I was enjoying the boos as much as the cheers.’ The question is does he hear more boos or cheers? Two videos are emblematic of the ex-Kings hit man. The first is from last season when he screened goalie Martin Brodeur in a way the NHL had never seen before. The second is a compilation of some of Avery’s best (cheap?) shots.

-- Debbie Goffa