Trevino’s Motto: If He’s in Fairway, He’s Fair Game

One of the prominent celebrities in the Dec. 17-20 Ray Floyd Lexus Challenge at the Citrus Course at La Quinta will be actor Bill Devane, who was on the winning team in this event a few years ago.

Devane likes to tell the story about hitting a great three-wood to the green, inside of opposing pro Lee Trevino’s ball.

Devane, feeling pretty good about himself, said to Trevino as they walked down the fairway: “Hey, I might just go out and join the seniors golf tour.” To which Trevino responded, “Yup, and starve to death.”

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Trivia time: When was the last matchup of undefeated, untied teams in the Rose Bowl game?

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Painful record: Baseball players for Illinois College overdid it somewhat in a game against Grinnell College earlier this year. Nine of them reached first base safely after being hit by a pitch.

That broke the NCAA Division II record of seven men being hit in one game.

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Bon appetit: Some athletes eat the strangest foods, not necessarily the healthiest.

Figure skating champion Tara Lipinski said her favorite dish is grapes topped with whipped cream, M&Ms; and sprinkles.

A different kind of ice star, Adam Foote of the Colorado Avalanche, is fond of an egg, ham and cheese sandwich covered with mustard, catsup and mayonnaise.

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Stalemate: Keith Barwell, owner of England’s Northampton Rugby Club, on the tabloid press: “The Sun approached me the other day. I told them that they don’t cover rugby and I don’t do topless interviews.”

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Head-hunting: Eddie Sefko in the Houston Chronicle: “Don’t they teach rookies anymore? Indiana [Pacer] newcomer Eldrick Bohannon left the bench in the fourth quarter of a game last week and headed to the bathroom for a rush call.

“But he couldn’t find the Pacers’ locker room. So he ended up in a public restroom next to fans in one of the corridors at the Market Square Arena.”

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Out of control: Ron Borges in the Boston Globe on powerful running back Jerome Bettis of the Pittsburgh Steelers: “He is again reminding the world how dangerous a Greyhound bus would be if it had no brakes.”

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FYI: Four schools--Washington State, Washington, UCLA and Arizona State--are tied for first in the Pacific 10 Conference. The record for multiple ties at the end of the season is three.

It occurred in 1935, 1959, and 1993. UCLA was involved each year.

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Looking back: On this day in 1990, the Phoenix Suns set an NBA record with 107 points in the first half of a 173-143 victory over the Denver Nuggets.

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Trivia answer: 1933, when Howard Jones-coached USC defeated Pittsburgh, 35-0.

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And finally: Blackie Sherrod in the Dallas Morning News: “You did Clip & Save, didn’t you, that Smiley [Jerry] Jones assessment during training camp:

“ ‘This is the best overall talent we’ve had in our nine years.’ Oh ho, so that’s who has been evaluating Cowboy draft choices since JJohnson left.”