Bobsledding Through the Theme Rooms

The cash-strapped U.S. Virgin Islands Winter Olympic team has sold two bobsleds to a Japanese firm that reportedly runs “love hotels,” a newspaper reported Thursday.

The Japan Times said the team sold its three bobsleds--a four-man sled and two two-man sleds--because it could not afford to ship them out of Japan and needed money to repay loans taken out to compete in the Nagano Games.

A company that reportedly operates love hotels in Osaka bought the four-man bobsled and one of the two-man bobsleds for about 2.5 million yen ($19,500), the newspaper said.

The third sled was sold to a machinery maker that helped sponsor the team.

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Add sleds: Japan has thousands of so-called “love hotels,” which are used by couples, including married ones, seeking privacy in a nation in which most people live in small apartments.

In a bid to attract customers, the hotels often offer theme settings, such as a “Cleopatra Room,” a “Jungle Room” or a “Water Room.”

So now will there be a “Sled Room”?

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Trivia time: Which NBA team has the highest winning percentage on the road during the regular season?

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Proud dad: Rick Barry, on his son, Brent, whom the Miami Heat acquired from the Clippers before the trading deadline:

“I know he can do things delivering the ball even Magic Johnson couldn’t do.”

Haven’t seen it yet, Rick.

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Hyperbole: Laker announcer Chick Hearn, commenting on Derek Fisher’s performance against Indianapolis on Wednesday night: “It’s the greatest game he has ever played in his life.”

Wait a minute, Chick, how about that game he had while playing for Parkview High School in Little Rock, Ark.?

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Big deal: Cincinnati Red Manager Jack McKeon, on his ban of golf clubs in spring training:

“Playing baseball is the way these guys make their living, not golf. You don’t see Tiger Woods playing baseball.”

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What a bummer: Speaking of golf, Florida Marlin pitcher Livan Hernandez, the most valuable player of the National League championship series and World Series, traded in his yellow Ferrari for a black Mercedes.

“I couldn’t get my golf clubs in the Ferrari,” he said.

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FYI: Jose Canseco will wear No. 00 with the Toronto Blue Jays. He wore No. 33 last year with Oakland, but Blue Jay third baseman Ed Sprague has that number.

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Looking back: On this day in 1965, Nate Thurmond of the San Francisco Warriors set an NBA record with 18 rebounds in one quarter against Baltimore.

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Trivia answer: The 1971-72 Lakers, 31-7 record, .816.

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And finally: Detroit center Brian Williams, reacting to Isiah Thomas, the former Piston captain and Toronto general manger who criticized him during an NBC broadcast:

“You know what they say about that? Light travels faster than sound, so some people appear to be bright until you hear them speak.”