Simply Put, Some Think the Hall Struck Out

Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News writes that it’s a shame Ozzie Smith was the only player inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday:

“Voters were so caught up in the wave to induct Smith that they seemingly ignored another shortstop, Detroit’s Alan Trammell, who did not incorporate gymnastics into his style of play but was a first-class defensive player and a middle-of-the-lineup force in an era when shortstops were not counted on to produce runs.

“It’s not as if Trammell is the only player to be slighted, but he is one of the more glaring oversights, along with reliever Goose Gossage and pitcher Jack Morris.”

Trivia time: Who currently has the highest-selling jersey among NFL players?

No bargain: It has been estimated that Ryan Leaf earned $13.5 million in his brief NFL career, prompting Nick Canepa of the San Diego Union-Tribune to do some math:

“I figure Leaf earned $964,285 per touchdown pass. Or, $375,000 per interception. Or, $39,940 per incompletion. If Leaf is not the most disappointing player in the history of the NFL, he’s leaning at the tape. It’s hard to imagine any quarterback producing less bang for the buck.”

Good question: In a letter to Newsday, a reader asked, “Regarding Ryan Leaf, don’t you have to participate in the NFL in order to retire from it?”

Cleaning house: From Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle: “[Wide receiver] Terrell Owens tells USA Today he wants to become a team leader, then kicks off his campaign by describing the 49ers as ‘a lot of two-faced people. And that goes from the top down.’

“No better way to assert your leadership than by exposing those phony, two-faced water boys.”

Keeping house: NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon’s slump has been attributed to his impending divorce and to his wife’s threat to take their $10-million Palm Beach mansion.

Responds Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel: “Kind of reminds you of the quote from Zsa Zsa Gabor, ‘I’m a marvelous housekeeper. Every time I leave a man, I keep his house.’ ”

Sticky solution: Keith Olbermann of ABC Radio, commenting on golfer John Daly’s applying Super Glue to stop the bleeding caused by a piece of glass in a hand:

“Maybe he can teach this trick to Sergio Garcia. A little Super Glue on the hands and we won’t have to watch Sergio readjust his grip 30 times per shot.”

Charles in charge: Charles Barkley, on corporate executives refusing to testify in corruption cases: “These executives are ridiculous. The next time they plead the fifth everybody should jump up and beat the hell out of them.”

Prediction: From Dan Daly of the Washington Times: “Before the end of the NFL season, some team’s front four will be nicknamed ‘Eight-Legged Freaks.’ ”

Trivia answer: Chicago Bear linebacker Brian Urlacher’s No. 54.

And finally: Dallas Maverick owner Mark Cuban, on leading Chicago Cub fans in singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” recently:

“I am just being myself. Somebody had to be the luckiest guy in the world, and it just happened to be me.”