Practicing for 10 Years Is Not Nearly Enough

Cleveland outfielder Albert Belle, 27, who led the American League in runs batted in last year, says he knows what he is going to do with his life:

“I’m going to retire at 40, practice for 10 years, then join the senior golf tour when I turn 50.”

Belle, who has been playing golf for only three years, has a 22 handicap.

Lots of luck.

Trivia time: Denny Crum, Steve Fisher, Bob Knight, Mike Krzyzewski, Rollie Massimino, Dean Smith and John Thompson are active Division I basketball coaches who have won NCAA championships. Who are the remaining two?

All-world: John Steigerwald in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: “So far, the best name of the year has to go to the basketball player for Monsignor Rice High School in New York: Scientific Mapp.

“In any other year, U.S. skier Picabo Street might have had a chance.”

Ho hum: C.W. Nevius in the San Francisco Chronicle: “(Jason) Kidd’s announcement that he was leaving Cal for the NBA had all the suspense of a layup.”

Panic time: Talk-show host Arsenio Hall:

“Magic’s announcement has left me with a bittersweet feeling. Sweet because nothing makes him happier than involvement with the Lakers. Bitter because Dyan Cannon has my floor seats, and I sold my parking pass to Kurt Rambis.”

Ball four: He has a hit on the charts, but Tim McGraw, son of former Philadelphia Phillie pitcher Tug McGraw, is in a tight jam. The country-western singer has struck a nerve with some Native American groups who are protesting his fast-rising single, “Indian Outlaw.”

The Minneapolis-based National Coalition of Racism in Sports and the Media, which has been active in protesting the Atlanta Braves’ tomahawk chop, has targeted McGraw and his newly released album, “Not a Moment Too Soon.” It complains that the lyrics and melodies are nothing more than stereotypes of Native Americans.

New stat: Rony Seikaly of the Miami Heat had what Coach Kevin Loughrey called a “cripple-double” in a recent game against the Boston Celtics: 36 points, 16 rebounds and a career-high 10 turnovers.

Calm down: Colombian soccer Coach Francisco Maturana, defending his players against accusations that they were too rough in a game against South Korea:

“No one left in an ambulance.”

Excuse me, sir: Edmonton Oiler Jason Arnott, who is being touted for the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year in the NHL, says he was awed by big-name players when he came into the league.

“I was afraid to hit them,” he said. “I didn’t want to offend them.”

FYI: The Florida Marlins are accepting credit cards for hot dogs, soda and peanuts. What’s next? Chewing gum?

Trivia answer: Don Haskins of Texas El Paso, which was known as Texas Western when the Miners won in 1966, and Jud Heathcote of Michigan State, 1979.

Quotebook: LPGA star Dottie Mochrie on why she is so grim on the course: “This is not the Ice Capades. You don’t fall on a double axel and get up and smile, and everything’s OK, you know.”