As Far as the Competitors Are Concerned, All Bets Are Off

Betting on horses is commonplace, but how about betting on men and women in a track meet? It was done Friday night at an indoor meet in Reno.

The Eldorado Hotel & Casino, one of the meet’s sponsors, posted odds on those competing in seven men’s and women’s events.

Ollan Cassell, executive director of USA Track & Field, said posting a betting line on track and field might be a rarity in this country, but is not unique.

“The (British) always had odds on the Olympic Games,” he said.

USA Track & Field did rule, however, that athletes competing in the meet would not be allowed to place any wagers.

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Trivia time: What former Laker coach also played in the first NBA All-Star game in 1951?

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Unnecessary: The NCAA football rules committee is considering a recommendation for a tiebreaker system to be used in bowl games beginning next season.

It’s doubtful that the rule would be invoked often in the Rose Bowl, considering the last tie game was in 1927, a 7-7 standoff between Stanford and Alabama.

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Rah rah: The Buffalo Bills’ cheerleaders, the Jills, are cheering for another reason. They have won a ruling from the National Labor Relations Board to form the first employees’ union representing a professional cheerleading squad.

“We’re not whiny little cheerleaders,” said Erin McCormack, who has been with the Jills for three years. “We’re intelligent women. Other groups try to better the institutions they’re in. That’s all we’re doing.”

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Ancient athlete: Grant Hill of the Detroit Pistons on veteran teammate Joe Dumars: “You see how he goes about things the right way. You’re like, ‘If this old man has won championships, so can I.’ As a younger person, he’s definitely someone I look up to.”

Dumars is 31 years old.

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Incentive: Nick Canepa in the San Diego Union-Tribune: “Sorry I can’t get excited about John Stockton’s assist record. In Utah, they give you two assists per night if you live there during the off-season.”

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Enough already: Shaquille O’Neal already has put his marketing stamp on music, film, commercials and video, so what’s left for him? How about Valentine’s Day cards?

Shaq now has his own set of cards bearing sweet messages such as, “Have a really awesome triple-overtime Valentine’s Day,” and “Have a slammin’, jammin’ Valentine’s Day.”

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Looking back: On this day in 1990, James (Buster) Douglas knocked out Mike Tyson in the 10th round to win the heavyweight championship in what is regarded as one of the biggest upsets in boxing history.

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Trivia answer: Fred Schaus, who represented the Ft. Wayne (Ind.) Pistons.

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Quotebook: Curtis Leskanic, pitcher for the Colorado Rockies, when asked if he would attend replacement games: “Yeah, with a carton of eggs.”