If They Keep Throwing, Duke Could Get Thrown for a Loss

Stanford has its marching band; Duke has its student section at basketball games. Each can be counted on to do the unusual.

The Duke tradition dates to at least 1974, when students tossed aspirin after North Carolina State guard Moe Rivers was introduced. Rivers had been charged with stealing aspirin at a Raleigh, N.C., drug store.

In 1983, students threw pizza boxes after the introduction of North Carolina State’s Lorenzo Charles, who had been charged in connection with the theft of two pizzas from a deliveryman.

In 1984, students tossed packages of condoms and women’s undergarments at Maryland forward Herman Veal. Veal had been accused of sexual misconduct during the off-season.

This season, North Carolina State was put on two years’ probation by the NCAA for illegal sales of shoes and tickets. The Wolfpack received a salvo of about 75 pairs of sneakers.

Sunday, the students threw doughnuts, cookies and other food when Georgia Tech’s Dennis Scott was introduced. Scott was overweight last season but lost 25 pounds during the off-season.

The Atlantic Coast Conference finally has decided to take action. Fred Barakat, supervisor of officials, said any further incidents might result in technical fouls against Duke.

“Certainly, there’s something to be said for being funny and creative and cute,” Barakat said. “But there’s a fine line there. My concern was the physical welfare of the players.”

Trivia time: Two years ago today, who became the shortest player in NBA history to record a triple-double?

Symbols status: It has been a good week for team mascots. First, the University of California’s Oski the Bear was reinstated after being suspended for splattering Oregon State fans with a cream cake. Tuesday, the kidnapped Pirate Parrot was returned.

The costume for the Pittsburgh Pirates’ mascot was stolen from the car of Mike Recktenwald, 26, one of two men who play the role. Recktenwald had parked his car while he attended classes at Robert Morris College.

After WBZZ-FM offered a $200 reward for the return of the costume, two unidentified men dropped it off at the radio station.

Make mine sherbet: Chicago Sun-Times columnist Dave Feldman, the nation’s No. 1 Broken Down Horseplayer, on Southland-based Grand Canyon’s chances of winning the Kentucky Derby: “I’ll give 100 BDHs an ice cream cone at Sportsman’s Park the Monday following the Derby if Grand Canyon wins. I’m saying the son of Fappiano has a chance to win. Remember that, but I don’t think he’s as much of a goody as (trainer Wayne) Lukas does.”

Clarification: The Kings’ Luc Robitaille was incorrectly quoted by the Associated Press after the NHL All-Star game. Robitaille said his quote on the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Mario Lemieux, used in Tuesday’s Morning Briefing, actually was: “A fire hydrant could score 40 goals playing on Lemieux’s line. It’s the same with Wayne (Gretzky). They are amazing the way they move the puck.”

Trivia answer: John Bagley, 6-foot-1 guard for the New Jersey Nets, had 19 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds in a 108-103 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.

Quotebook: Dick Motta, coach of the Sacramento Kings, on guard Danny Ainge being sidelined: “Ainge hurt his back picking up a suitcase. It must have had his contract in it.”