After Games, Ducks Can Put Bad Guys on Ice

We know that television programs aren’t always hits, but there’s a chance that at least one may become all that it’s quacked up to be.

In the works at Disney Animation is a Mighty Ducks television series: Hockey players by day, crime fighters by night, working out of their pond in Anaheim.

Hopefully they’ll be more successful than the hockey team that isn’t animated.

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Trivia time: What is the highest-rated college sports event since A.C. Nielsen began keeping records in 1961?

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Crown him: Jim Litke of the Associated Press has tried his hand at predicting sports events for 1996. Litke foresees that Mike Tyson will knock out Englishman Frank Bruno and announce that Bruno’s countryman, Prince Charles, is his next opponent.

“As a once-in-a-lifetime score, Chuck brings marquee value and grouse-hunting experience to a bout,” Litke writes. “Besides, somebody has to clean him out before his ex-wife does.”

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Really? Sam Smith of the Chicago Tribune expects the NBA to put the high-flying Bulls in a league of their own and give a new name to the rest of the teams: “The Lower 28.”

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Tough at the plate: Jerry Crasnick of the Denver Post said slugger Kevin Mitchell can still hit, but anyone who signs him should be wary of his weight problem.

“There’s no assurances he won’t show up at spring training looking like Eric Gregg’s twin brother,” Crasnick said.

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But who counted them? Phoenix Sun star Charles Barkley, who probably has downed a few in his day, is featured in a new McDonald’s Big Mac commercial.

This led McDonald’s to put out a Big Mac fact sheet, which asked whether there are more dimples on a golf ball or sesame seeds on a bun.

On the average, dimples win, 331 to 178.

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He’s game: Dexter Carter of the San Francisco 49ers played in 17 games of a 16-game season. He was waived during the New York Jets’ bye week and was claimed by the 49ers after the 49ers already had their bye.

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But they had nice uniforms: To prove it’s what’s up front that counts, the offensive line of the 4-12 Jacksonville Jaguars surrendered more sacks and took more penalties than any other unit in the league. And the defensive front had the fewest sacks in the league.

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Trivia answer: The 1964 Rose Bowl between Illinois and Washington, which had a rating of 34.6.

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Quotebook: Tony Siragusa of the Indianapolis Colts explained why he turned over some tables in the locker room at halftime of the Colts’ victory over New England: “I just freaked out a little bit.”