Apparently, These Guys Have Brains to Spare

Who are the smartest athletes in the United States? According to Weekly World News, bowlers are the smartest--and golfers are the dumbest.

This comes from a new four-year study of more than 58,000 athletes.

Athletes took a series of standard IQ tests and bowlers scored highest: an average of 129, 29 points above the average. Golfers did the worst at 97, finishing behind everyone from racquetball players (121) to soccer players (100).

The headline on the article: “Four-year study proves the brains are on the lanes.”

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Trivia time: Who holds the NFL playoff record for touchdowns in a game?

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Underprivileged: Rick Morrissey in the Chicago Tribune: “Time for the [NBA] players to put away those Will Work for Gold Chain picket signs.”

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Big deal: Bud Geracie in the San Jose Mercury News: “David Stern said NBA teams will offer $10 tickets this season so families ‘can continue’ to attend NBA games. For the first time in 20 years.”

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Scary guys: Glenn Foley played quarterback for Jacksonville Jaguar Coach Tom Coughlin at Boston College and is now a backup for Bill Parcells with the New York Jets.

“They’re almost identical, really,” Foley said. “They’re both really intense and great coaches. Behind the scenes and on the field, they’re basically the same. They’re both maniacs.”

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Hollow honor: Jeff Gordon in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: “Congrats to Kevin Carter for being chosen Rams MVP. But isn’t that a little like being named valedictorian of summer school?”

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Put down: Jay Leno on the NBA lockout: “Forget about the owners and the players. I’m happy it’s over because it hurt the little people. But enough about Bob Costas.”

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Use your imagination: English golfer Fame Moore, 16, isn’t troubled by her unusual first name:

“My dad has the same initials, and wanted me to be called something unusual beginning with F. It could have been a lot worse.”

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FYI: The Dallas Cowboys hold the record for NFL playoff victories with 32. The San Francisco 49ers are runners-up with 24.

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Looking back: On this day in 1974, the Miami Dolphins won their second consecutive Super Bowl in their third consecutive appearance with a 24-7 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.

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Trivia answer: Ricky Watters, five, for the 49ers, against the New York Giants in 1994.

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And finally: New Hall of Famer George Brett on another of this year’s inductees, Nolan Ryan:

“The first time I faced Nolan, he was with California. I was batting seventh behind Jim Wohlford. He hit Jim in the ribs and the ball seemed to stick there for a minute before it fell to the ground. Jim was trying to breathe and couldn’t.

“Then I came up and took three pitches, three strikes. That was good enough for me.”