This Odd ‘Collectible’ Is Tough to Swallow

The baseball collectibles market is getting a bit sticky. A wad of bubble gum supposedly chewed and spit out by Luis Gonzalez of the Arizona Diamondbacks has been up for bid on the Web site www.nocontraction.com.

On March 7, Gonzalez singled in the first inning of a spring training game against the Oakland A’s at Tucson Electric Park, then promptly discarded the gum. Jason Gabbert, sitting in the first row behind first base, asked a security guard to retrieve the used gum, then put it in a golf ball collector’s case, where it currently resides.

Gabbert said the auction started a week ago at $20 and, thanks to radio talk shows, the top bid Friday was $600. But a Tucson disc jockey said an unidentified bidder promised to cough up $2,000 for the gum on Monday. Proceeds from the auction benefit the athletics program at Lakeview High School in Cottonwood, Minn.

More on gum: In 1993, Gabbert was convicted of forgery in North Dakota after opening a bank account in major league pitcher Aaron Sele’s name.

Gabbert said he hopes his mistake years ago doesn’t create doubt of the gum’s connection to Gonzalez, who said: “People are crazy, or at least a little weird. I’m scared to go to a restaurant now and take a napkin or something.”

Trivia time: Who is the Laker playoff leader in three-point shots?

Music meanie: John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports that Reds’ Manager Bob Boone has instituted a no-music policy in the clubhouse before games.

“For one thing, it bothers me,” Boone said. “Some players like it. It helps them get ready for the game. Others don’t. I say that’s why God invented headphones.”

Mr. Nice Guy: Seattle Seahawk Coach Mike Holmgren says he’s changing his image this year.

“I’m no longer a bully or a control freak,” he said. “I’m going to be a touchy-feely kind of guy.”

Touchy-feely? Uh, oh.

Slow down, Mo: From Michael Ventre of MSNBC.com: “In a New York Post story, Mo Vaughn of the Mets ripped former teammate Troy Percival and his former team, the Angels, in a tirade that included 35 expletives. The Mets looked on the bright side, however, pointing out that the more time Mo spends spewing four-letter words, the less time he spends eating.”

Arise, robots! PGA Tour player Frank Lickliter, commenting after tour officials issued a statement expressing concern that recent public displays of temper by players during tournaments could harm golf’s reputation: “If I wanted to be a robot, I’d sit behind a desk for a living.”

Looking back: On this day in 1973, the American League began using the designated hitter when the New York Yankees’ Ron Bloomberg drew a first-inning walk in a game at Fenway Park.

Trivia answer: Michael Cooper, with 124. Byron Scott is second with 116.

And finally: Bob Knight will be back in Indiana this weekend, signing copies of his new book at bookstores in Bloomington and Indianapolis. Bookstore staff will wear striped referee shirts and extra security has been ordered to handle the thousands of fans expected.

Said Nick Stark, a clerk in the Indianapolis store: “People are stoked about it. They’ve been asking, ‘Is he going to throw chairs at us?’”