Those Muggers in New York Rob Him Wrong Way

Miami Dolphin linebacker Zach Thomas will be reluctant to visit New York again. He said he was mugged and his wallet was stolen when he went for a charity appearance.

“The New York Jets beat us twice. I got beat again when I was on the road a couple of days ago,” said Thomas, who needed five stitches in his upper lip after the attack. “If they would have asked . . . just ask me next time. I’ll give you my wallet. It doesn’t mean anything to me.”

Hard to find polite muggers these days.

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Trivia time: Which cities have been Super Bowl hosts the most?

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Shirt sale: The man who retrieved Mark McGwire’s 70th home run ball sold it for $2.7 million during an auction in New York.

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch wonders if it’s not too late for him to get in on the action. Among the items he would put up for auction:

“My ragged Hawaiian shirt--which is missing a button--worn in the press box the day he slammed No. 70. Hey, McGwire actually touched this, when he pounded me on the back after I congratulated him.”

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Pippen’s place: Bernie Lincicome in the Chicago Tribune, on whether the Chicago Bulls should retire Scottie Pippen’s number after his departure for the Houston Rockets:

“If [owner Jerry] Reinsdorf can retire Harold Baines’ [White Sox] number, surprising even Baines, then Pippen ought to get his own alcove with his own perpetual flame.”

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Ultimate praise: Former Buffalo Bills’ coach Marv Levy, evaluating Denver running back Terrell Davis:

“[Davis] is not merely talented, he is unique. The man possesses size, power, vision, speed, acceleration, judgment, burst, toughness, composure, balance, poise and a sense of teamwork.

“In my estimation, he is in a class with Jim Brown and Walter Payton.”

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Talented baggage: Tom Donahoe, director of operations for the Steelers, telling Ron Cook of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette why he wouldn’t have drafted Randy Moss:

“There was too much baggage in his past. He would come with too much negative publicity.”

Since the Steelers went 7-9, with mediocre receivers, Moss, the outstanding Minnesota Viking rookie, might have made a difference.

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FYI: At 38, John Elway is the oldest quarterback to start in a Super Bowl. Atlanta’s Chris Chandler is 33, so the game will feature the oldest quarterback combination ever, totaling 71.

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Trivia answer: New Orleans and Miami, eight times each.

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And finally: Brent Barry, the former Clipper who also played for the Miami Heat, is now playing for the Chicago Bulls.

And some people wonder why he signed with a team that no longer has Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and other regulars. Moreover, the Bulls have a new coach, Tim Floyd.

“I’m silly to come here, but he’s crazy to be coaching here,” Barry told the Chicago Sun-Times. “That’s the way I look at it, and anyone that crazy, I want to play for.”