He’ll Get the Name Right When Leaf Blows Into Town

Washington State’s sports information director, Rod Commons, filled with pride when a Tournament of Roses official at a Pasadena news conference Wednesday pronounced the Cougars’ quarterback as one of the nation’s best.

Commons was quickly deflated when the man identified that quarterback as Ricky Leaf.

It is Commons’ responsibility to make sure everyone in the country knows Ryan Leaf is a Heisman Trophy candidate.

To that end, Commons has established two websites, dispatched weekly press briefings and produced a poster featuring former Cougar quarterbacks Drew Bledsoe, Mark Rypien, Timm Rosenbach and Jack Thompson orbiting Leaf.

Commons even mailed a leaf to each Heisman voter.

Now, in Pasadena, he hears “Ricky Leaf.”

If not quite on a first-name basis, Leaf is at least known on the West Coast. Listing all the Heisman candidates fit to print, a prominent East Coast newspaper recently failed to include him.

Michigan Coach Lloyd Carr said Wednesday it took time before word reached the Midwest.

“We don’t get the coverage of the Pac-10 until midway through the season,” he said. “I wasn’t really aware of what kind of quarterback this kid was until then.”

Carr said he will make sure his defensive players know before they face the Cougars on Jan. 1.

No one has to tell NFL scouts. Leaf probably will finish behind Peyton Manning in the Heisman voting, but the order could be reversed in next spring’s draft.

That assumes Leaf will leave Washington State before his senior year.

He says he will make his decision this month, then reveal it after the Rose Bowl game.

His consultants are Bledsoe, who left school early; Manning, who didn’t, and Cougar Coach Mike Price, who insists he will give an unselfish opinion.

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Don’t invite Al Davis and Al Michaels to the same press box. . . .

In response to Michaels’ comments about Davis and his team on “Monday Night Football,” the Raiders responded with a rambling, unsigned press release so vicious that it seemed like a hoax. . . .

No, it really was the work of the dark side. . . .

Is unbeaten Oscar De La Hoya prime for an upset? . . .

You have to wonder considering he has received advice from three different trainers for Saturday night’s fight against Wilfredo Rivera. . . .

That includes Emanuel Steward, who was fired; Roberto Alcazar, who took over even though he was found lacking before; and Gil Clancy, hired to assist in case Alcazar is still lacking. . . .

De La Hoya admits he’s concerned about the judging in Atlantic City, where George Foreman lost a controversial decision last Saturday. . . .

Promoter Bob Arum says De La Hoya won’t fight if the judges are unknowns, like two of the three who worked the Foreman fight. . . .

For the first time, an NBA team is bringing three Wooden Award winners to Los Angeles. . . .

David Robinson, Tim Duncan and Sean Elliott will play for San Antonio on Thursday night against the Clippers and Friday night against the Lakers. . . .

Maybe they can stop in at the Wooden Classic on Saturday at the Pond. . . .

The high school playoff game to watch on Saturday night matches Long Beach Poly and Loyola, both 12-0, at East L.A. College. . . .

Michigan’s Carr has been involved in Rose Bowl games eight times as an assistant coach, but Washington State’s Price isn’t intimidated. . . .

“I’ve watched the game eight times from my living room,” he says. . . .

Both Price and Carr say they’re bringing their teams to Southern California a few days early, on Dec. 20, for the weather. . . .

Have they heard of El Nino? . . .

NCAA men’s soccer playoff games were played throughout the country last Sunday. The only one postponed because of weather was in Los Angeles. . . .

UCLA, which eventually beat Washington on Monday, hopes for better conditions Saturday at Spaulding Field against Clemson. . . .

Wet conditions are assured when Pepperdine and USC play in NCAA water polo’s final four this weekend. . . .

The Trojans’ goalie, Richard McEvoy, is returning to his home pool in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. . . ..

Harry Ornest says he went to a Staples store and a fight broke out.

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While wondering if Michaels really wants to pick a fight with Darth Vader, I was thinking: I like Auburn over Tennessee, UCLA will still be shafted by the alliance, Jerry Colangelo’s Diamondbacks will win a championship before his Suns.