It Will Pay to Have Something Rotten in the State of Vermont

Doesn’t anyone simply wear sports sneakers anymore? On the heels of the dreaded Sports Illustrated sneaker phone comes the 16th Annual Odor-Eaters International Rotten Sneaker Contest, to be held March 20 in Montpelier, Vt.

The competition is open to ages five to 18 and the rules are relatively simple. Judges are looking for the “scuzziest, most odoriferous sneakers in the world.”

The only stipulation is that rotten shoes be sturdy enough to stay on one’s feet during the entire competition.

“We can spot an imposter in the blink of an eye and a whiff of the schnoz,” said Dr. Herbert Lapidus, head judge and odorologist.

The winner will receive a $500 U.S. savings bond and fare for the first bus out of town.

Go ask Charles: Philadelphia 76er forward Charles Barkley recently took time out from his busy NBA schedule to discuss a variety of subjects with Newsday’s Jan Hubbard.

A sampling from Barkley on:

--Strip clubs: “The best are in Houston.”

--Role models: “Athletes aren’t role models, parents are.”

--New York: “I love New York City. I’ve got a gun.”

--On himself: “I am one intelligent brother.”

Hubbard wondered if the 76ers would be better off without him. “We’re only 2-5 when I’m out,” Barkley said.

“But who’s counting?”

Trivia time: What school won the first NCAA basketball championship?

Hit me: Former heavyweight champion Leon Spinks is grooming his son, Tommy, for a career in boxing. Tommy, a 215-pounder, said his dad introduced him to the sport two years ago in a Detroit gymnasium. “We started fighting. He hit me. I hit him back. He kind of got the best of me.”

In the Spinks family, it seems, you always hit the one you love.

“I wasn’t in shape, and I guess he just wanted me to feel it,” Tommy said.

Next up for Tommy: driving lessons?

More Palmer shorts: Lyle Spencer of the National summed up pitcher Jim Palmer’s comeback attempt with the Baltimore Orioles in a word: “Brief.”

U$C Trojan$: Two USC alumni were overheard discussing their team’s probable NCAA tournament bid at the Sports Arena last Saturday. The topic was neither USC’s potential opponent nor the site. The topic was this: “You know, we get $200,000 for the first round. Guaranteed.”

Hawk talk: A reader in Atlanta recently posed this question to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: What’s 14 feet long, worth $10 million and wanted by virtually nobody? Trivia answer: In 1939, the University of Oregon defeated Ohio State, 46-33.

Quotebook: Heavyweight boxer George Foreman, on his upcoming opponent: “I like (Evander Holyfield). You know, my sons are named George Jr., George III, George IV, and George V. I’ve about run out of Georges, so if we ever have another boy, we may name him Evander.”