Here’s One Guy Who Doesn’t Worship Woods

This time Dan Le Batard of the Miami Herald joins the chorus of those who think golfers aren’t athletes.

“Tiger Woods is many things--a magnificent champion, the most famous face in sports, the world’s greatest golfer--but this is what he’s not.

“He’s not an athlete.

“Golfers aren’t athletes. They have skill, just like bowlers, fishermen, brain surgeons and seamstresses. To be an athlete, one must jump, run, or catch or (this would be nice) at least move. Golfers? They need even their bags carried for them.”

For your information, Dan, Woods was named the Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year in 2000, becoming the only three-time winner of the award.

*

Trivia time: How many unbeaten seasons has UCLA’s men’s basketball team had?

*

Third strike: Steve Hummer, writing in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “The reaction to Dale Earnhardt’s death has been astonishing, beyond even the level befitting the best driver of his time.

“The last No. 3 to provoke this kind of emotion was a ballplayer named Ruth. And the Babe died nearly 53 years ago, wasting away where Earnhardt went out at 180 mph.”

*

Optimistic: Steve Miller, president of the Professional Bowlers Assn., on the sad state of his sport: “We’re only a couple of breaths from being a carcass. We’re just above roadkill.”

*

Time warp: Tim Keown on ESPN.com: “With Bret Saberhagen and David Cone fighting for spots in the rotation, the Red Sox just might be the favorites to win the 1988 American League pennant.”

*

Shooting suits: Keith Smart, Cleveland Cavalier assistant coach and former Indiana star, reminiscing about the CBA:

“One time, two guys, Jose Slaughter and Barry Mitchell, were traded for each other at halftime. There were future considerations in the deal. They turned out to be sweat suits.”

*

So there: Detroit Piston guard Jerry Stackhouse, ripping Antoine Walker of the Boston Celtics:

“He knows I don’t like him. I don’t like that shimmy after he does something. There are things on and off the court about him that I don’t like, and he knows it.”

*

Trivia answer: Three, 1964, 1972 and 1973, each with 30-0 records.

*

And finally: In his new book, “Flashing Before My Eyes: 50 Years of Headlines, Deadlines & Punchlines,” Dick Schaap tells his life story through sports figures and events he covered the last half-century.

He prefers to talk about others rather than himself. “My wife would like me to be more introspective, but it’s not my strong suit,” he told Scripps Howard News Service. “I’m afraid I’d dig deep down and find I’m shallow.”