And They Want Trail Mix With All the Trimmings

Reed Glenn of the Daily Camera in Boulder, Colo., compiled a list of actual questions and comments the U.S. Forest Service received from backpackers last year after wilderness camping trips. Some way-out examples:

* “Too many bugs and leeches and spiders and spider webs. Please spray the wilderness to rid the area of these pests.”

* “A McDonald’s would be nice at trail head.”

* “The coyotes made too much noise last night and kept me awake. Please eradicate these annoying animals.”

Trivia time: Who holds the Laker record for free-throw percentage in a game?

Ripping Rick: Even though Rick Neuheisel had a 20-4 record in his first two seasons as Colorado’s football coach, he is under siege for his team’s 5-5 record--which most likely will be 5-6 after today’s game against No. 2 Nebraska.

“Any time an article starts with ‘blond and guitar,’ I don’t go any further because they’ve already labeled me,” said a resigned Neuheisel, the former UCLA quarterback and assistant coach.

Try again: Some suggested names for the expansion Minnesota franchise that will join the NHL in the year 2000: Minnesota Blue Ox, Freeze, Northern Lights, Voyageurs, White Bears and Wild.

Comment from Terry Egan of the Dallas Morning News: “The Freeze highlights your state’s worst feature. Voyageurs is out. No one wants a team name that looks like a typo.

“Stick to Northern Lights or White Bears. Unless you want to consider Minnesota Fats.”

No fish lover: Tom FitzGerald in the San Francisco Chronicle: “Although Philadelphia Flyer star Eric Lindros bared his teeth during a scuffle with the Sharks’ Marty McSorley last week, the NHL decided he hadn’t taken a bite, of, uh, seafood.

“‘Lindros will not receive any supplemental discipline [both players got double minors],” said Kevin Paul Dupont in the Boston Globe, ‘but has been advised to floss between shifts.”’

Why not? Steve Baker of KVMR-FM in Nevada City (Calif.) on the possible move of the Minnesota Twins to Greensboro-High Point-Winston Salem, North Carolina’s Triad region: “Does this mean the Twins become the Triplets?”

Looking back: On this day in 1929, Ernie Nevers rushed for six touchdowns and kicked four extra points for an NFL-record 40 points as the Chicago Cardinals routed the Chicago Bears, 40-6.

Trivia answer: Jerry West, 18 for 18 in 1965 and 1969, and Magic Johnson, 18 for 18 in 1991.

And finally: Ed Bouchette in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, before the Steelers played the Philadelphia Eagles last Sunday:

“The Steelers once combined forces with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1943. They were called the Steagles. If the two franchises blended talent today, they would be known as the Steelers--there’s hardly an Eagles player who could crack the starting lineup.”

Perhaps the Steelers are overrated considering that the “talent poor” Eagles won, 23-20.