Holtz Gives New Meaning to Optimism

Can you believe it, Lou Holtz, the notorious worrier, actually sounding optimistic about his new crop of players at Notre Dame?

“We probably have more freshmen that are capable of being impact players this year than most years that I’ve been in coaching,” he told Irish boosters.

Of course, it doesn’t hurt to open the season with Northwestern.

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Add Holtz: The Notre Dame coach says he will not be distracted by a new book, “Under the Tarnished Dome: How Notre Dame Sold Its Soul for Football Glory,” which is critical of his coaching record and the Notre Dame football program.

He said he wouldn’t even read it.

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Trivia time: How many winners of the Del Mar Futurity went on to win the Kentucky Derby?

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Different menus: Of the discussion on the growing gap between the big-market and little-market cities in major league baseball, Tom Hardicourt of the Milwaukee Sentinel writes: “The small-market guys are saying, ‘Give us some of your lobster and we’ll give you some of our ham sandwich.’ ”

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Attention Fresno: LPGA Hall of Famer Kathy Whitworth, commenting on the growth of women’s golf, told John Trainer of the Boston Globe: “I’m absolutely thrilled about the way things are now. Hey, I remember when the LPGA had to play Fresno.”

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It’s a rough game: Pro Bowl defensive lineman Pierce Holt might be wondering why he chose the Atlanta Falcons after all.

Holt, who left the 49ers after five years, suffered a broken cheekbone during preseason practice and a bruised right elbow in the first exhibition, but then it got worse when a bee flew into his mouth during practice and got caught in his throat.

“That’s the first time I’ve treated someone for swallowing a bee since I came in the league in 1967,” trainer Jerry Rhea said.

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Sound track: Linford Christie, before winning the 100-meter title Sunday in track’s World Championships, explained his desire to win:

“I would love to go close to 9.92 seconds, but winning medals is far more important. I get a buzz out of hearing ‘God Save the Queen.’ You don’t hear that as much as the American national anthem.”

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The early birds: Pennsylvania’s high school football teams were permitted to start practicing in pads Monday, and one school didn’t waste a minute.

The Thomas Jefferson Jaguars of suburban Pittsburgh started their practice at midnight and worked for about two hours, then slept in the gymnasium and practiced again at 10 a.m.

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That’s cruel: Todd Phipers of the Denver Post says the best nickname he’s spotted recently is that of the Dodgers’ JosE-6 Offerman.

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Trivia answer: Two, Tomy Lee in 1958 and Gato Del Sol in 1981.

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Quotebook: Bob Brenly, San Francisco Giant coach, on playing the Dodgers: “Personally, I’d rather lose, 177-0, to the Rockies than lose, 1-0, to those guys.”