So That’s What They Mean By Speed Chess

In an attempt to support a push to make chess an Olympic sport, delegates from the U.S. Chess Federation have agreed to drug testing at tournaments.

Such testing is a requirement for recognition of any sport by the International Olympic Committee.

Caffeine, amphetamines and Ritalin are examples of drugs the game’s international federation contends could provide an unfair advantage--adding that steroids could provide an endurance advantage during a grueling match.

Others have doubts, including Jim Leade, a U.S. delegate who questioned the idea drugs could give players an edge.

“What, human-growth hormones so we can bang the clock harder?” Leade said. “It registers as absolutely ridiculous.”

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Trivia time: How old was Bobby Fischer when he became the youngest U.S. chess champion in history in 1957?

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Receipt, please: Item to be entered on boxing publicist Bill Caplan’s expense report to promoter Bob Arum: “Two gendarme uniforms, $440.”

Caplan staged a news conference at a French restaurant in L.A. to hype the fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Jesus Chavez on Oct. 6 at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas.

To complete the French theme, Caplan and fellow publicist Ricardo Jimenez wore French police uniforms rented from a movie studio.

Pay up, Mr. Arum, s’il vous plait.

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Keys to the game: This might be a bit tougher to pull off in the NFL, but former New Orleans Saint assistant John Bunting made it clear who was in charge when he opened his first training camp at North Carolina.

He took away the players’ car keys for 10 days.

Among those suddenly without wheels was two-sport standout Julius Peppers, who reached the Final Four with the Tar Heel basketball team two seasons ago.

“Ain’t no superstars on this team,” tight end Doug Brown told the Winston-Salem Journal. “He took everybody’s keys.”

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More keys: Funny, but isn’t it usually the other way around?

Aren’t college coaches expected to get caught giving the players the keys to a new SUV?

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Trivia answer: Fischer was 14.

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Bad ‘Boys: Randy Galloway of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram took a look at the crowd for the Dallas Cowboys’ first exhibition and foretold a dismal season for the post-Troy Aikman Cowboys.

“There was no official word from team officials, but veteran media observers called it the smallest gathering of humanity for a Cowboys game in the history of Texas Stadium, which opened in 1971. About 20,000, tops,” Galloway wrote.

“Tractor pulls will put more butts in seats.”

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And finally: Woody Paige of the Denver Post was even more harsh than Galloway:

“Jerry Jones, ex-frumpy, aging resident dictator, has lost 60 pounds and gotten a face-lift. . . .

“The Cowboys’ owner-general manager-Adonis should have spent the off-season trying to improve the team’s appearance, not his own.

“The Cowboys are uglier than a departing Texas mule.”