Third World, Yes, but at Least They Get Havana Cigars

C.W. Nevius of the San Francisco Chronicle on the floundering Golden State Warriors:

“In the NBA global picture, the [Warriors] are Cuba, strictly third world. There’s no election, the populace is bitter and the revolutionary guard--known in the movement as Latrell Sprewell--even attempted a violent coup d’etat.

“No wonder free-agent point guard Damon Stoudamire doesn’t want to be exiled on this sad little island. No one does.

“Late at night, the players huddle around their room-service trays and tell the stories of those, like Chris Mullin and Tim Hardaway, who found an inner tube and floated to freedom.”

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Trivia time: In the 19-year history of the San Diego-Los Angeles Clippers, how many times has the franchise had a winning record?

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Ah, now we know: There have been many theories as to the secret for the late Ben Hogan’s success, mainly involving his golf swing.

Sam Snead has his own theory. He told the Golf Channel, “I think it was his right arm. [He] made sure that right arm stayed straight through the ball. I think that was his secret.”

OK, hackers, now go out and try it.

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New category: Tom Boswell in the Washington Post: “What do you call it when Chris Webber is charged with three misdemeanors, plus six more traffic offenses--nine violations--in a single day?

“A triple-triple.”

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Makes sense: Another opinion on the Casey Martin cart controversy with the PGA Tour in a column written by Brian McGrory of the Boston Globe:

“The essential focus of the sport is the ability to swing, not the ability to walk,” said Gary Phelan, a Connecticut lawyer who specializes in disability cases.

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Not me, man: Tom Gugliotta of the Minnesota Timberwolves on Siberia sites in the NBA:

“I wouldn’t take $17 million a year to go to Toronto or Vancouver or Denver. There’s too much frustration in those places. There’s not enough money they could pay me to go there.”

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Blasting off: Tony Kornheiser in the Washington Post on the Super Bowl: “Halftime gets more ornate every year. A few years ago, you might remember, Miss Diana Ross exited via helicopter; the plan next year is for old reliable Up With People to perform, then leave by spaceship to link up with Mir.”

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Be on the gums: Bob Kravitz in the Rocky Mountain News: “Next year’s NHL All-Star game, they’re going to a new format: guys with all their own teeth vs. guys with bridges.”

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Looking back: On this day in 1971, UCLA started its 88-game winning streak with a 74-61 victory over UC Santa Barbara.

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Trivia answer: Twice, 1979 and 1992.

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And finally: An example of Mark McGwire’s popularity in St. Louis. At a recent writers’ dinner there, McGwire left the dais briefly. When he came back, he said:

“These people are unbelievable. They followed me to the bathroom.”