Still Too Early for Anteater Dreams?

Today, the J.A. stands for Just Asking . . .

Did you ever think you’d get to say, “First-place UC Irvine Anteaters” three games into the Big West Conference men’s basketball season? With the pluck they showed in their victory over Boise State the other night, is it possible we’ll see the Anteaters at the Pond in the NCAA tournament’s West Regional? Nothing wrong with dreaming, is there?

Did you see that ad for this weekend’s San Fernando Stakes at Santa Anita, the one that said “Silver Charm’s back. And he’s mad.”? Just because it’s a rematch with Lord Grillo, who beat him earlier, are we supposed to believe that a horse is seeking revenge? What, did they ask him or something?

Hasn’t Dick Vitale realized that his act expired about eight years ago?

What does Clipper Keith Closs’ new hairdo look more like, a soccer ball or a defective Chia pet?

So do those Winter X Games have you fired up for the Olympics?

Forget Tonya and Nancy--what will the Olympics be without Dan Jensen? Was there ever a better story line than the hard-luck speed skater finally winning a gold medal?

Do you realize when you watch today’s ski jumpers you could be looking at tomorrow’s strippers?

Don’t believe me? Did you know these words actually moved on the wires this week: “HELSINKI (Reuters)--Former Olympic ski-jumping champion Matti Nykanen said Wednesday his new job as a night-club stripper was better than landing in the gutter”?

Do you think CBS will do a Where Are They Now piece on Nykanen, who has been so hard-up for cash that he once sold off some of his medals?

Will some Finns get to see The Full Matti?

How many more home losses would the Lakers have if the Eastern Conference teams came to the Forum more than once a year?

What happens if Nick Van Exel’s knee starts acting up in the playoffs?

So, Orange County principals, any new releaguing plans this week?

Isn’t it amazing how, if enough time passes, anyone can become a sentimental favorite? Remember when John Elway was lambasted as a spoiled brat because he refused to go to the Baltimore Colts?

Do you think we’ll ever see the day when people want to see the Dallas Cowboys win one more Super Bowl for good ol’ Jerry Jones?

Which do you think will happen first: the Dodger sale is completed or baseball gets a new commissioner?

Has anyone heard a word about the college football poll fiasco lately? Don’t those people who say “the debate keeps the sport in the public’s mind” realize that any and all college football discussion gets washed away in Super Bowl hype as soon as the NFL conference champions are decided?

Now that there are no more “East German” judges, if someone gets a suspiciously low score in figure skating, can we blame a college football coach?

Will life in the Orange County sports scene be the same without Ducks/Angels public relations workhorse Bill Robertson?

When you see Pat Riley, don’t you think of him as the former Knick coach instead of the former Laker coach?

Remember when he first got the Laker head coaching job and he was supposed to be a co-coach with Jerry West? That arrangement lasted, what, till the end of the news conference?

Has any show anywhere ever had a pair of back-to-back guests like O.J. Simpson and Dennis Rodman on ESPN’s “Up Close” this week?

Don’t you just love those lizards on the Budweiser commercials? They almost make those years of the stupid frogs worthwhile, don’t they? Since “Seinfeld” is leaving, could NBC give the lizards a sitcom to fill the hole on Thursday nights?

Speaking of holes, what are NBC’s Sunday afternoons going to look like?

Do you think CBS will do the right thing and show the score and clock continuously?

Is anything generating less excitement than the upcoming men’s tennis season? OK, what if you don’t include the Winter Olympics?

Aren’t you glad our favorite Finn, Teemu Selanne, took up hockey instead of ski jumping?

What do you think Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards is doing these days?

Just asking.