If USC Wins, One Mayor Will Take a Ribbing

The Rose Bowl game between Northwestern and USC? As it turns out, it’s a match made in the kitchen.

Lorraine Morton, the mayor of Evanston, Ill., bet barbecued ribs that the Wildcats would win and Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan bet enchiladas on the Trojans.

Oddsmakers have made USC a 3 1/2-point favorite, but it’s now clear that victory should go to the team that is the hungriest.

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Make it count: According to estimates, 20,000 Northwestern fans from Illinois will be in Southern California for the Rose Bowl. Make them feel welcome. After all, they come out only once every 47 years.

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Trivia time: What Pacific 10 Conference school has not played in the Rose Bowl?

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It’ll be a hit: Ken Rosenthal of the Baltimore Sun calls the Orioles of Cal Ripken and Roberto Alomar “The Rip and Robbie Show.”

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Polite too: After watching him up close in a game last week, Utah Coach Rick Majerus became a big fan of Wake Forest’s Tim Duncan.

“He’s a great kid, he’s calling me sir, and I said, ‘Hey, I want to be your agent,’ ” Majerus said.

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Memory lane: Now that they have reacquired Jack Howell, Bryan Harvey and Willie Fraser, the Angels are well on their way toward re-creating the 1987 team that finished 75-87.

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Lincoln log: How difficult to bring down is Nebraska quarterback Tommie Frazier? The Cornhuskers kept track and estimated that 319 of Frazier’s 604 rushing yards came after he was hit.

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Shoe news: If you’re USC, Nike puts its money where your feet are. Nike has spent more than $37 million in the last three years, signing contracts with eight universities to provide sneakers, apparel and equipment.

The Trojans got an estimated $5 million. And you thought the athletes of Troy wore sandals.

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Trivia answer: Arizona.

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Quotebook: New Chicago White Sox coach Bill Buckner: “A lot of people think about the World Series thing. I don’t have to worry about that. I’m not a fielding coach. I’m a hitting coach.”