Ditka’s Dicey Situation Is No Surprise

Randy Curtis, a pit boss at Harrah’s casino in New Orleans who had a confrontation with Mike Ditka last month, is suing the casino for not backing him up in the dispute.

Curtis says he quit his job, overseeing craps tables, after Ditka cussed at him and threw a lighted cigar in an argument over a dice roll that allegedly cost Ditka thousands of dollars.

The suit also claims Ditka is “known throughout the casino industry to be volatile and not have good impulse control.”

Ditka, the lovable old Chicago Bear and New Orleans Saint coach, volatile? Say it isn’t so.

At least he isn’t a criminal. The city attorney chose not to prosecute Ditka after the incident.

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Trivia time: Who holds the NHL record for playoff goals in overtime?

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Rubbing it in: Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News called the Kings “addle-brained” after the Red Wings had won, 3-0, Wednesday night to complete a series sweep at Staples Center.

“Of course, the Kings might have presented a bigger challenge if they weren’t so darned stupid,” Wojnowski added, referring to the bad penalties L.A. took in the series and “were punished for it.”

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The Tiger factor: Hale Irwin, Senior PGA Tour player, and three-time U.S. Open winner, on Tiger Woods:

“I think some of the players have been intimidated by Tiger and they openly say that.

“Right now, they are accepting that they can’t beat him. On the other hand, I would want to play him if I was in their shoes, to raise my level.”

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Simple pleasures: Three days after he had suffered a seizure in the dugout last summer and undergone brain surgery, Larry Dierker, manager of the Houston Astros, left his bed for the first time, sipped a little coffee and read a newspaper.

“I’ve been to Hawaii and I’ve been to Aspen,” Dierker said in an interview with Esquire magazine. “None of that was as much fun as that coffee and a newspaper.”

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Big Mouth II? Jeff Gordon in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

“Looking to brighten the mood around his office, New York Met Manager Bobby Valentine reported for work with a gift from his wife--a mounted fish named Big Mouth Billy Bass.

“This fish’s mouth and tail move. Hit its switch and it sings: ‘Don’t Worry, Be Happy.’ ”

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Hunting for a laugh: Comedian Jay Mohr, on the San Diego Padres’ camouflage uniforms: “I thought there would be 11 stolen bases. ‘Hey, I didn’t see anybody running!’ ”

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Trivia answer: Maurice “Rocket” Richard of Montreal, with six.

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And finally: Asked about his relationship with tennis star Anna Kournikova, Red Wing standout Sergei Fedorov told the Detroit Free Press:

“Dating Anna was a learning experience, that is for sure. Sometimes not very fun, but it is what it is.”