They Have Designed a Way to Win

Do logos win games? NHL spokeswoman Mary Pat Clarke, when asked to assess hopes of the Phoenix Coyotes, formerly the Winnipeg Jets, indicated she felt the new logo might help.

“Phoenix has a phenomenally creative and colorful logo,” she said. “This is the perfect time for a team like the Coyotes to be taking Arizona by storm.”

A triangular drawing of a coyote with a goalie mask and stick, the logo is featured on the team jersey.

“It’s extremely cool,” Clarke said.

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Trivia time: What was the first city in the United States to have a team in the NHL?

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Sounds like: Trainer Clifford Sise has a 3-year-old filly in training for Santa Anita’s Oak Tree meeting whose name is Eileen Dover. So what, you ask? Say it out loud.

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The good old days: Billy Reynolds, a running back for the Cleveland Browns from the 1950s, was signing autographs at soon-to-be-demolished Cleveland Stadium when he stopped to pose for a picture.

“I had my picture taken here in 1956, and I came back to have it taken again in 1996,” he said. “The memories when you walk in here. . . . I still get goose bumps.”

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Keep the faith: From Mitch Albom of the Detroit Free Press: “Ohio State likes to act as if God wants it to win. Notre Dame believes it.”

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Played ‘em all: Gene Sarazen, 94, calls Jack Nicklaus “the greatest golfer of all time,” followed by Bobby Jones, Harry Vardon and Ben Hogan. When Ron Sirak of the Associated Press asked Sarazen how his game had changed since he won his first U.S. Open in 1922, he replied, “I used to walk to the first tee with my driver. Now I walk up there with my cane.”

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Closing in: Dan Reeves’ next loss will be his 100th in regular-season NFL play. He is 137-99-1 in 16 years as a coach. It won’t happen this weekend, however; the New York Giants have a bye.

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Changing times: Hockey writer David J. Neal of the Miami Herald reveals an interesting occurrence during one of the Florida Panthers’ exhibition games.

“The Panthers set an unofficial NHL record, pre-, regular or postseason, when they played Tampa Bay at Orlando,” Neal wrote. “At various times of the game, half the Panthers on the ice--goalie Keith Weekes, left wing Peter Worrell and right wing Craig Martin--were black.”

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Bad question: Before a TV interview, the Green Bay Packers’ Brett Favre was asked by ABC’s Al Michaels if he wanted some make-up powder.

“No, thank you,” replied Favre. “I’m trying to quit.”

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Cashing in: You don’t find Arnold Palmer’s or Jack Nicklaus’ name much on the leader board anymore, but they still ring the cash register in endorsements.

The Sports Marketing Letter projected Palmer as the third-highest moneymaker among athletes for the year between August 1966 and July 1997 with $16 million and Nicklaus fifth with $14.5 million.

Michael Jordan leads with $38 million and the Lakers’ Shaquille O’Neal was second at $23 million. Fourth was Andre Agassi at $15.8 million.

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Trivia answer: The Boston Bruins, in 1924.

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And finally: Tony Dungy shouldn’t have anything to worry about at Tampa Bay just because the Buccaneers are off to a 0-4 start in his first season. He has a long way to go to catch John McKay, who started 0-26.