He Wasn’t First Putter to Get Snookered There

Golfer Ernie Els, a two-time U.S. Open champion from South Africa, remembers what it was like when he prepared to play in the Masters for the first time:

“I started to practice on a billiard table at home after a few people told me that the greens at Augusta were quicker than a snooker table. Unfortunately, I found out that they were actually a lot quicker.”

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Trivia time: What do the late Jesse Owens, Cap Anson and Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis have in common?

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Religious reasoning: According to Leah Garchik in the San Francisco Chronicle, when Cardinal O’Connor boasted about the big home run hitters being Catholic, Rector Robert Cromey of Trinity Episcopalian responded:

“No Episcopalian would be caught dead hitting little balls great distances unless they are golf balls.”

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If it fits . . . : Calgary goalie Tyler Moss is known as “Tuna Can” around the NHL. Why?

“Chris O’Sullivan gave it to me. . . . I think it has something to do with how I’m full of so much bull.”

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Help from Bambi: If Mark McGwire’s muscle-building supplement is banned in the major leagues next year, an unusual replacement has been found--New Zealand deer antler velvet.

Legend has it that it is an aphrodisiac, but clinical studies show deer velvet enhances athletic performance, has anti-inflammatory effects, and helps prevent illness such as cold and flu. Deer antler velvet grows each spring on male deer and is cast off in late winter.

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Road rage: A snake alert has been issued by organizers of the Australian Rally, a motor race in the bush to the east and south of Perth, after reports that one of three people attacked by venomous snakes had died.

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Two long, long years: The defunct Shreveport Pirates, who lasted two seasons in the Canadian Football League, have been sued by the city again in what is becoming an annual rite of fall.

In the last two years, the Pirates have been sued by a former player (quarterback Billy Joe Tolliver), a former coach (John Huard), a former general manager (J.I. Albrecht), a scoreboard maker (Fairtron) and twice by the team’s home city.

Now the city is suing for breach of contract.

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Tennis touche: After a $300,000 women’s doubles tennis exhibition, featuring Martina Navratilova and Steffi Graf against Jana Novotna and Anna Kournikova, slated for Nov. 27 at Sunrise, Fla., was canceled when its sponsor withdrew support, Miami Herald writer Meri-Jo Borzilleri wrote, “What’s puzzling is why the event was promoted in the first place.”

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Trivia answer: All are buried in Oak Woods Cemetery in Chicago.

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And finally: When the Kings displayed signs on city buses with the question: “In what other sport do they sharpen the equipment?” the Amateur Athletic Foundation had the answer in its sports letter--ice dancing.