Mental Blocks Could Be His Specialty

Matt Birk made an impression at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, not so much for his 307-pound football ability as an offensive tackle, but his intellect.

“People look at you a little funny around here when you say you’re from Harvard,” Birk told the Boston Globe. “Initially some guys are impressed, but it’s not like I’m talking astrophysics with them.

“The only time it seemed to count for much was when they handed out the Wonderlic [intelligence test]. I heard somebody whisper, ‘Where’s the Harvard kid?’ ”

*

Add Birk: If he doesn’t make it in the NFL, he won’t be deprived financially. He already has a job lined up with Prudential Securities.

*

Trivia time: When did UCLA have its first unbeaten conference season in basketball?

*

Nasty: From David Letterman: “I like the Winter Olympics, but what I really like watching right now is Bill Clinton skating on thin ice.”

*

Take your medicine: Purdue basketball Coach Gene Keady on a recent 107-75 rout of Ohio State:

“The fans were getting after me about running up the score. And I said, ‘Hey, wait a minute. You forgot about football, didn’t you? So, just shut up and sit down. This is a payback.’ ”

Purdue hasn’t defeated Ohio State since 1988 in football.

*

Sweet tooth: Brian McKenna of KFNS-AM in St. Louis: “It’s getting out of hand in the PGA. First Casey Martin sues so he can use a golf cart. Now Craig Stadler is suing the PGA so he can use a dessert cart.”

*

Very personal: Jake Curtis of the San Francisco Chronicle writes that Stanford basketball Coach Mike Montgomery acknowledges it’s easier to play California at the new arena in Oakland than at loud, suffocating Harmon Gym, but he noted one drawback:

“I learn more about my family background at Harmon.”

*

The awful truth: From The Good Doctor in Inside Sports magazine:

Question: “Al Michaels said something on TV that angered Oakland Raider owner Al Davis. What was it that Michaels said?”

Answer: “The score.”

*

Looking back: On this day in 1980, Bryan Rison of Washington State made 23 free throws against Oregon, a Pacific 10 Conference record.

*

Trivia answer: 1955-56, when the Bruins were 16-0 in the Pacific Coast Conference. UCLA was eliminated by the Bill Russell-led University of San Francisco, 72-61, in a first-round NCAA tournament game.

*

And finally: The Terrible Twenties golf group has played every month on local courses since 1926. That’s 861 consecutive months.

Member Bob Wolcott was asked what the group will do to celebrate its 1,000th month.

“You’re asking the wrong guy,” Wolcott said.

He’s 77.