Next One to Buy Can Become a 12th Man for All Eternity

A Texas casket manufacturer has discovered that old Aggies are dying to spend eternity in maroon-and-white, monogrammed caskets.

Texas A&M; receives $50 for each of the caskets, which cost $3,000 to $4,000. Since they were first licensed more than a year ago, 11 have been sold. Two funeral parlors in College Station, Texas, have them on display.

Ohio State also licenses official caskets.

“We granted a license, but it wasn’t long ago and we have no idea how they’re selling,” Ohio State licensing officer Rick VanBrimmer said.

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Sudden thought: Isn’t this an endorsement opportunity for Tom Lasorda--monogrammed, Dodger-blue caskets? After all, didn’t he just say he wants the Dodger schedule posted on his gravestone every year after he dies?

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Trivia time: In the NCAA tournament, what two opposing players hold the record for most points in one game?

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Did anyone notice? When the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Philadelphia 76ers recently, Kevin Garnett--who a year ago was playing high school basketball--had 19 rebounds.

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Call me when it counts: In Bradenton, Fla., the other day, Pittsburgh first baseman Mark Johnson--who hits tape-measure home runs but strikes out about a third of the time--hit a batting practice ball that skimmed the bottom of the netting atop the batting cage, then cleared the right-field fence.

“That’s the first time I’ve seen that in 33 years of baseball,” Manager Jim Leyland said. “He didn’t just hit it out, he hit it way out.”

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Triple Heisman: Glenn Davis, telling his favorite Heisman trophy story:

“Les Horvath and his wife, Shirley, moved to Los Angeles in 1953. Shirley didn’t know much about football, but she knew Les had won his Heisman in 1944.

“They came to our house one time, and Shirley saw my Heisman over the fireplace but didn’t say anything. Then a month later they went over to Tom Harmon’s place and she saw Tom’s Heisman.

“She said to Les: ‘I thought you told me this trophy was a big deal. Everyone out here’s got one.’ ”

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Gold glove: Ex-Pirate center fielder Bill Virdon, on the fielding prowess of his old teammate, second baseman Bill Mazeroski:

“I backed him up in center for 10 years and never got a ball.”

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Trivia answer: Notre Dame’s Austin Carr, 52 points, and Kentucky’s Dan Issel, 44, in 1970.

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Quotebook: Georgetown basketball Coach John Thompson, on the NBA: “Here’s a league with kids jumping to play in it without finishing their college degrees. But when it’s time to hire somebody to represent them, the first requirement is an advanced college degree.”