OK, How Soon Before the SPCA Shuts Down This Betting Ring?

The Philadelphia zoo isn’t quite betting the farm on its home team in the World Series, but it’s doing the next best thing: wagering animals on the Phillies.

“If the Phillies win the series, we will get a pair of Tasmanian devils (from the Toronto zoo),” said Philadelphia zoo spokeswoman Antoinette Maciolek.

If the Blue Jays win, the Philadelphia zoo will lend the Toronto zoo two white lion cubs.

*

Future book: About that bet--the cubs have not yet been born and Toronto does not yet have the Tasmanian devils, but both are expected.

*

Trivia time: When Lee Trevino won the seniors’ Vantage Cup at Tanglewood Golf Club in Clemmons, N.C., he became the fifth player to win a tournament over the same course on both the regular and senior tours. Who are the four others?

*

Say what? Brian Hewitt of the Chicago Sun-Times has this to say about his choice as the most overrated coach in the NFL:

“Art Shell of the Raiders can’t even keep track of the game clock, plus, just like all those other Raiders coaches, he lets Al Davis run the team.”

*

Michael mania: A newspaper survey of high school students revealed that Michael Jordan is more popular than Greg Norman. So what’s newsworthy about that?

The students were from Australia.

*

Wanna bet? A horse named Big Ten Player is making its debut today in the fourth race at Santa Anita. As hunch bets go, it doesn’t figure to get much action. After all, Big Ten players--as in football--are not known for their speed.

Sudden thought: Big Ten Player is a filly. Maybe the Big Ten women are faster.

*

No name: When reporters asked European Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher the name of the team’s doctor, he said, “I don’t know. We all call him Doc.”

*

World of difference: Eddie Hill, 57, clinched his first NHRA Winston drag racing championship Sunday at the Chief Auto Parts Nationals at Ennis, Tex.

“I can’t tell you how good it feels,” Hill said. “You have to be 57 to know my feelings right now. This is something we’ve worked for all our adult lives. I feel like I’m 55 again.”

*

Money talks: Michael Johnson, the reigning world 400-meter champion and 1991 world champion in the 200 meters, has decided to concentrate on the 100 meters next track season.

Why, you ask?

The 100 is one of track and field’s Grand Prix events, which means prize money is paid. The 200 and 400 are not Grand Prix races.

*

Trivia answer: Doug Sanders, Quail Hollow in Charlotte, N.C.; Billy Casper, Silverado in Napa, and Don January and Al Geiberger, La Costa.

*

Quotebook: Notre Dame linebacker Jeremy Nau, asked to name his most memorable sporting event: “The egg toss in Cub Scouts.”