A Key to the City, Then, We’ll Change All of the Locks

Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson, a native of Fremont, Ohio, was a little wary when he appeared before the Ohio Legislature to receive a resolution honoring his achievements. Fully aware that he was a major factor when his Michigan team defeated Ohio State, he scanned the balconies of the ornate House chamber as he moved toward the rostrum. “I have to look around for a minute to make sure there are no snipers up there,” Woodson said with a big smile.

When Woodson gave House Speaker Jo Ann Davidson an autographed football, she said, “We think you only made one mistake in your life--your choice of school.”

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Trivia time: For the first time since 1991, two yokozunas lost matches on the opening day of a major tournament. What’s the sport, and what’s a yokozuna?

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Questions, questions: Maybe he’s only searching for some psychological edge, but Seattle SuperSonic Coach George Karl questions whether the Lakers know their roles.

“I don’t think L.A. knows whose team that is yet,” Karl said. “I think that is what the Lakers are searching for. I bet if you go to the Lakers and ask them who are you going to go to in the last second of a game, I think you will get four different answers.

“All I’m saying is, seemingly, in pro basketball, that doesn’t work, even though it should work.”

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Fire away: When the NFL holds its annual golf shootout today at the Coto de Caza golf club, there will be one competition that could be close to every hacker’s heart--a club-throwing contest for anyone frustrated with his game.

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Dead giveaway: When a streaker pranced across the ice in a game in Calgary, Florida Panther forward Kirk Muller said, “I knew he was from around here--he didn’t have a tan.”

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Who’s to say? A Hockey News poll recently named Wayne Gretzky the best player of all time, but Scotty Bowman, coach of the Detroit Red Wings, disagrees. He names Gordie Howe, who was No. 3 on the paper’s list.

“Gordie played the longest. He was the toughest player of his era. He could shoot left or right. He could play all forward positions and defense too. If I could make a mold for a player, it would be Gordie.”

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Moving up: The Arizona Diamondbacks haven’t played a game yet, but they’re already rated the No. 24 team in Baseball Weekly’s power ratings, ahead of Tampa Bay, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Oakland, Montreal and Philadelphia.

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Net worth: Pete Sampras has been ranked No. 1 every week since April 10, 1996, making this week his 209th in the top spot. Only Ivan Lendl (270) and Jimmy Connors (268) have been ranked No. 1 more weeks.

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Looking back: On this day in 1979, Terry Bradshaw threw four touchdown passes to lead the Pittsburgh Steelers to their third Super Bowl win, 35-31, over the Dallas Cowboys.

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Voice of experience: Former Buffalo Bill Coach Marv Levy’s message to Denver quarterback John Elway--just in case:

“It is better to have lost four Super Bowls than never to have played in any.”

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Trivia answer: Grand sumo wrestling, and grand champion.

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And finally: Kobe Bryant notwithstanding, Jerry West, the Laker executive vice president, says high school graduates should not think about jumping to the NBA.

“He’s not your typical 19-year-old kid,” West said. “I was ill-prepared to hardly go to college. I don’t think kids understand. They think if they can dunk, that’s good enough.”