Is Watching Leaf Really Worth All That Lettuce?

With Washington State playing in the Rose Bowl game for the first time in 67 years against No. 1 Michigan, it’s a hot ticket.

Players are limited to six tickets each, and Cougar quarterback Ryan Leaf has been deluged with requests. He is telling acquaintances not to pay scalpers’ rates for $75 Rose Bowl tickets and instead watch the game on television.

“I think paying $350 to watch me play is stupid,” he said.

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Trivia time: Who was the first Heisman Trophy winner to play in the Rose Bowl game?

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Start frowning: Carolina Hurricane winger Geoff Sanderson on his scoring slump: “Every day, I come to the rink and try to keep a smile on my face and try to stay positive.

“I’ll tell you, I’m getting sick of that too.”

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Advice: Don’t tell Sanderson to “Have a nice day.”

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Cheap price tag: Chris Webber of the Washington Wizards on Latrell Sprewell, his former Golden State Warrior teammate: “Everybody knows he’s my friend. And we could probably get him for a ballboy now.”

Actually, not even that. Because the Warriors terminated Sprewell’s contract, he’ll be a free agent whenever his suspension ends.

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Add Sprewell: Fred Feltes of Calistoga, Calif., suggested to the San Francisco Chronicle that Sprewell join Dennis Rodman as a tag team in pro wrestling, in which chokeholds are legal.

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Sinking fast: Oakland running back Harvey Williams on the worst season the Raiders (4-10) have had during a nonstrike year since 1962:

“Everybody is ready to get this nightmare over with. This is about as bad as it gets. It doesn’t get any worse than this.”

It can get worse, Harvey. How about 4-12?

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Put sugar on it: Golfer Jesper Parnevik on his penchant for eating volcanic dust to clean out his system: “It’s really expensive. I don’t know why. It tastes just like regular dirt.”

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FYI: Some discontinued bowl games: Bacardi, Bean, Boot Hill, Cement, Cigar, Corn, Fish, Fruit, Grape, Iodine, Kickapoo, Mineral Water, Peanut, Pelican, Poultry, Steel, Tobacco and Turkey.

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Looking back: On this day in 1975, the Chuck Knox-coached Rams defeated the Green Bay Packers, 22-5, at the Coliseum. Six days later, the Rams beat Pittsburgh, 10-3, to win the NFC West title with a 12-2 record.

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Trivia answer: Halfback Frank Sinkwich of Georgia on Jan. 1, 1943 against UCLA. The Bruins, making their first appearance in the game, lost, 9-0.

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And finally: Buffalo Bill Coach Marv Levy on quarterback Todd Collins trying to fill the shoes of Jim Kelly:

“Babe Ruth retired and Joe DiMaggio came along; and when DiMaggio left, Mickey Mantle came along. We’re looking for DiMaggio right now, and maybe Todd will become that.”

After Collins’ 13-for-32 passing performance in a 20-3 loss to Chicago last Sunday, Levy is still looking.