Read This Right and You’ll Bet on Gordon

Stock car driver Jeff Gordon has a thing about new racetracks.

“It’s like starting to read a new book,” the three-time Winston Cup champion said. “You know there’s lots of interesting stuff in it and you can’t wait to get the cover open and start reading.”

Gordon won inaugural events at Indianapolis, in 1994, and the California Speedway and Loudon, N.H., in 1997. He will be in another one Sunday, the Tropicana 400 on the 1.5-mile Chicagoland Speedway oval at Joliet, Ill.

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Trivia time: Who is the Angels’ only Cy Young Award winner?

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Tommy tumbling: Observations from Jim Litke of the Associated Press:

“It came as no surprise the most entertaining moment of the All-Star game involved a sawed-off bat sailing down a baseline. What was surprising is that it had nothing to do with Roger Clemens facing Mike Piazza yet again.

“After Tuesday night’s installment, it’s safe to say the midsummer classic has taken the final step from competition to exhibition--and a schmaltzy exhibition at that.”

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Dirt, not clay: Syndicated AOL columnist Norman Chad was watching Wimbledon on TV and asked, “Did you see Center Court on Sunday? This is the most famous grass court in the world? Have they ever heard of fertilizer? Geez. If they’re going to play on dirt, they might as well hold the Wimbledon finals in my parents’ backyard.”

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Space savers: The emphasis on youth in the NBA, says comedian Alan Ray, means that “at the arenas, high draft picks now get preferred skateboard parking.”

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He ought to know: There was a scene in “Double Jeopardy” in which Ashley Judd wrecked a pickup truck. Race driver Dario Franchitti, who is engaged to the actress, says it’s too close to real life.

“She’s done that to a couple of my cars,” he said.

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Looking back: Charley McClendon, longtime former Louisiana State football coach, is accepting his recently diagnosed cancer with his usual humor.

“It’s a funny thing,” he said, “because me getting kicked in the rear all those years must’ve formed a tumor.”

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The Bonds file: From the Sporting News’ Caught on the Fly column: “Fly understands Un-Barry-able Bonds and his G’int friends don’t like talking about 71, but it sure beats talking about impending free agency. One fella who sure doesn’t mind talking about 71 is BB’s agent, Scott Bora-Boras, who’s thinking, even though his client is pushing 40, $20 million per is perfectly reasonable.”

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That’s bad: After Kenny Brack led for most of a CART champ car race before slowing because of overheated brakes, car owner Bobby Rahal said, “When you lead that much and then you only finish fifth, it’s like kissing your grandmother--not even your sister.”

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Trivia answer: Dean Chance, in 1964.

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And finally: NFL columnist Paul Woody of the Richmond Times-Dispatch predicts:

“Tom Benson [owner of the New Orleans Saints] might as well play his hole card now--Los Angeles. . . . He will move the team to Los Angeles and play in the Rose Bowl until a new stadium is constructed.”