An Argument Like This Will Get You Busted

Kansas City’s Frank White played in 2,324 games during his 18 years in the major leagues and has coached at first base in more than 200 games for the Royals. During that time he was never ejected from a game.

The streak ended in a recent game against Cleveland when he was tossed by umpire Derryl Cousins after a close play at first base. White explained:

“I told him, ‘This guy [Kansas City runner Mike Sweeney] has busted his butt running 90 feet. It’s not too much to ask for you to bust your butt to run 10 feet to get in position to make the call.’ ”

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Trivia time: Who won the first national Superbike championship?

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Pest holiday: Carla Overbeck of the U.S. women’s soccer team is known as “Termite,” and Alan Brite is a pest prevention expert specializing in eliminating termites.

In honor of Carla’s play in today’s Women’s World Cup final, Brite is flying a white flag over his company headquarters in Santa Barbara.

“I’m hoping for a huge win over China,” he said. “Afterward, the flag comes down and it’s back to war on termites.”

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Note to Phil Jackson: Is it true what the New Jersey Nets’ Stephon Marbury says?

“In the NBA, it’s the [players] that make the team go. The coach is just there,” he said.

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No kidding: Next year’s B.C. Open will be in July, opposite the British Open. For 25 years, it has been in the fall.

“I don’t think we’re going to hurt them too much,” B.C. Open chairman Alex Alexander said.

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Still the King: Richard Petty was hospitalized last week because of a bleeding ulcer after collapsing at his home in Randleman, N.C.

“They put me in intensive care Wednesday night and Thursday morning they were coming through there getting autographs,” Petty said with a laugh.

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Gopher balls: Left-hander Allen Watson made three appearances for the Seattle Mariners before he was released. Each time he gave up a home run to the leadoff batter.

His replacement, Damaso Marte, gave up a home run on his first major league pitch.

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Early birds: The first U.S. Olympians chosen for next year’s Sydney Games are Anna Kotlova and Tuesday Middaugh, a synchronized swimming duo.

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Trivia answer: Reg Pridmore of Santa Maria, who won in 1976, 1977 and 1978.

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And finally: One thing that irritates pitchers more than giving up a home run is seeing the batter celebrate too much, but Jose Lima, the Houston Astros’ all-star pitcher, says it doesn’t bother him.

“If guys who hit home runs against me want to stop at every base and do the macarena dance, I swear to God, I don’t care,” he said.