They’re No. 1 in AFC Central, but No. 2 at News Conference

It was not the sort of scoop that reporters were hoping for at Pittsburgh Steeler Coach Bill Cowher’s weekly news conference.

When sportswriters and Cowher filed into a meeting room at Three Rivers Stadium for the session, they discovered that dogs owned by Steeler players Chris Oldham and Greg Lloyd had already been there.

The dogs had left behind incriminating evidence, both visual and olfactory.

Because the news conference is televised live, Cowher worked hard at keeping a straight face while a staff member, out of camera range, carefully cleaned up.

Oldham later admitted that Dibo, his pit bull terrier, was one of the responsible parties.

How did he know for sure?

“He was a lot lighter coming out than when he went in,” he said.

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Trivia time: What is Cal Ripken Jr.’s record for consecutive games played?

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Merci: According to the Amateur Athletic Foundation’s SportsLetter, Canadian Olympic officials are relieved Quebec voters rejected a referendum on independence.

In the 1994 Winter Olympics, an independent Quebec would have won more medals than Canada.

Seven of Canada’s 10 medal winners in individual events were from the French-speaking province. So too was every member of Canada’s silver-medal winning team in women’s short-track speedskating and both skaters in the pairs team that won a bronze medal in figure skating.

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Firing blanks: If a recent sparring session is any indication, it doesn’t look good for Buster Mathis Jr., who fights Mike Tyson tonight.

Mathis, 5 feet 11 and 230 pounds, was gasping for air in the first round of a workout in Philadelphia last week. He was slow, listless and offered no evidence of punching power.

“I’ve got a guy firing BBs against a guy firing cannons,” said Joey Fariello, Mathis’ trainer. “You’ve got to land a lot of BBs to hold off cannons.”

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The eyes of Texas: If it’s football and it’s Texas, everyone is a critic.

The entire state has spent the last week second-guessing Dallas Cowboy Coach Barry Switzer’s decision to run twice on fourth and one from the Cowboys’ 29 with two minutes left in the game against Philadelphia.

The gambles failed and the Eagles kicked the winning field goal.

A sampling of the media reaction around the country: Headline in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram: “Dumb and Dumber.” The Philadelphia Daily News: “Thank You Barry Much.” The New York Post: “Bozo the Coach.”

Even Texas Gov. George W. Bush had an opinion. During a news conference with Texas reporters in Washington, ostensibly to discuss Medicaid, Bush was asked what he would have done in Switzer’s stead.

“I’d have punted, of course,” said Bush, ever the conservative.

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Trivia answer: 2,153.

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Quotebook: Buster Mathis Jr., responding to a question about what happened to his nose and its prominent hump: “My nose happened because everyone kept hitting on it.”