Doctor or Wife? You Decide Who Should Get a Life

A New Zealand doctor teed off at midnight for the second year in a row in his bid to become the first person in the world to complete a round of golf in the new millennium.

Armed with a three-iron, a luminous golf ball and a light strapped to his head, Ant Gear raced around the course at North Island Manawatu Golf Club in Wellington in 114--eight shots better than his effort on Jan. 1, 2000.

The doctor had some help from his wife, Rosemary, who stood in the middle of each fairway shining a flashlight to give her husband something at which to aim.

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Trivia time: George Halas, the late owner of the Chicago Bears, was selected as player of the game in the 1919 Rose Bowl. Which team did he represent?

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Bronco blues: Woody Paige in the Denver Post: “On the last day of 2000, the Denver Broncos played their worst playoff game of this--or any other--millennium. Hapless New Year.

“The offense was offal in Baltimore, so the Broncos were just blowing in the wind.

“ ‘We were a little bit off,’ Coach Mike Shanahan alleged. Just as Columbus was a little bit off when he believed he had reached India. The Broncos bit off more than they could eschew.”

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Boston will never forget: On this day in 1920, Boston Red Sox owner Harry Frazee sold pitcher-outfielder Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees for $125,000 plus a $350,000 loan.

The loan was used to fund the Broadway musical “No, No, Nanette,” which became a hit.

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Year of the Tiger: Tom Watson on Tiger Woods: “Someday I’ll tell my grandkids I played in the same tournament [with Tiger]. We are witnessing a phenomenon the game may never, ever see again.”

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New owners: Last week Bob Young led his story in the Arizona Republic this way after the Lakers had defeated the Phoenix Suns for the 17th time in their last 20 meetings, this time by 37 points at America West Arena.

“Somewhere we missed the story. Jerry Colangelo doesn’t own the Suns anymore. The Lakers do.”

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Haunting defeat: Damon Stoudamire of the Portland Trail Blazers, on losing the Western Conference championship to the Lakers last season:

“Regardless of where we go as a team, whether we win a championship or not, we’re always going to be remembered as the team that blew a 15-point lead in Game 7.”

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Grim review: Noting that the New York Islanders drew fewer than 2,000 fans to their 2-0 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on a snowy Saturday night, Mark Hale of the New York Post began his story:

“There have been Florida State graduation dinners that were better attended. At least those things had free food.”

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Go for it: From comedy writer Earl Hochman: “Some New Year’s resolutions from sports celebrities:

* “Bob Knight: To ask George W. Bush to appoint him to the diplomatic corps.

* “Shaquille O’Neal: As a last resort, to shoot free throws while blindfolded.”

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Looking back: On this day in 1993, the Buffalo Bills staged pro football’s biggest comeback, beating the Houston Oilers, 41-38, in overtime after trailing, 35-3, in the first round of the NFL playoffs.

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Trivia answer: Great Lakes-U.S. Navy.

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And finally: Keyshawn Johnson had this reaction to his former team, the New York Jets, missing the playoffs: “I just smile when I hear about it when people bring it up. And my smile is going to get bigger and bigger the more we advance.”

Johnson quickly wiped the smile off his face after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were eliminated by the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday in an opening playoff game.