Royal Fans Take Leap of Faith

Fans in Kansas City have been acting a little strange this year, drawing comment from Scott Ostler in the San Francisco Chronicle: “In separate incidents, three fans have leaped from the bleachers to the field at K.C.’s Kauffman Stadium, a 12-foot drop.

“All were injured, the last guy shattering a leg. Those bleachers have become the Golden Gate Bridge of the Midwest. I call dibs on the bungee-cord concession.”

But Ostler doesn’t just pick on fans in Kansas City:

“In Minneapolis, fans throw golf balls, hot dogs and beer cups at Yankee left fielder Chuck Knoblauch, a former Twin. In a bizarre yet touching tribute to Knoblauch, all the throws miss.”

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Trivia time: Who holds the record for most free throws made in a NBA playoff game?

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Round mound of rebound: Bud Geracie in the San Jose Mercury News: “Sir Cumference is not a horse. It’s what the TNT crew calls Charles Barkley.

* “Buck guard Ray Allen predicts a Milwaukee-Sacramento final, a matchup only the network couldn’t love.

* “At 260 pounds, Ryan Leaf is not taking his second chance lightly.”

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Nomar who? The Boston Red Sox, playing well without injured star shortstop Nomar Garciaparra, are the only team in the majors to have no errors at shortstop this season.

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Wonder weed: Dallas Maverick assistant coach Del Harris, on the team’s fast-progressing Dirk Nowitzki: “Dirk is like a weed in your backyard . . . a weed in the finest sense. You can literally watch him grow.”

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Really? Atlanta third baseman Chipper Jones, when asked why he has hit eight homers in his last 12 games: “I’m seeing the ball really good.”

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Not surprising: The most searched-for athletes on the Internet last week, according to Lycos.com: 1. Anna Kournikova; 2. Kobe Bryant; 3. Allen Iverson; 4, Dale Earnhardt; 5. Tiger Woods; 6. Martina Hingis; 7. Vince Carter; 8. Dale Earnhardt Jr.; 9. Mike Tyson; 10. Tony Hawk.

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Bad Rapp: Angel pitcher Pat Rapp, acquired in the off-season to provide some stability and veteran leadership, has pitched 41 1/3 innings in his seven starts--and retired the side in order only 15 times.

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Trivia answer: Bob Cousy of the Boston Celtics, 30, against Syracuse on March 21, 1953, four overtimes.

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And finally: Sam Smith of the Chicago Tribune suggests that Pat Riley should become the new coach-general manager of the dysfunctional Portland Trail Blazers:

“The question is whether Riley believes his run is over in Miami, where the owner, according to rival team executives, is pushing his coach to reduce the payroll for the first time since Riley arrived.

“With reduced spending, it’s unlikely Miami can be a serious championship contender for the next several years.”