He Dressed Like a King to Promote This Event

Jerry Izenberg of the Newark Star-Ledger commenting wryly on a Don King news conference: “Shy and introverted as Mr. King is, it is difficult for a man to lose himself in the crowd when he is waving not one but two hand-held American flags and is modestly dressed in a denim jacket, studded with sequins and stars, decorated with red and white vertical stripes along the sleeves, a drawing of the presidential faces on the side of Mt. Rushmore with George W. Bush as an added starter over a breast pocket, a shoulder blade to shoulder blade multicolor map of the United States across its back, a white shirt and a red, white and blue bow tie.

“No, this last [item] didn’t blink on and off, but nobody is perfect.”

Trivia time: Which school holds the NCAA Division I-A record for the longest football winning streak?

A mother’s wrath: Jackie Hurlbut of Provost, Canada, telling the Calgary Sun about her streaker son Tim, 21, who slipped on the ice and knocked himself unconscious at a Flame game:

“I’d like to be proud of my son, and I’m not right now. I worried about him for just one moment before I was going to kill him.”

One thing missing: Bernie Miklasz in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch commenting on Cardinal Manager Tony La Russa: “[He] is the NL’s manager of the year for 2002, and perhaps that will make him more popular in St. Louis. I doubt it.

“In St. Louis, 20 seasons have elapsed since the Cardinals won a World Series. The fans hunger for that prize. La Russa wants it so much that he burns inside. Hey, at least they have something in common.”

Quick way to lose: Scott Ostler in the San Francisco Chronicle:

“Nets guard Chris Childs, under suspension for being too fat, is robbed of $30,000 in jewelry and cash outside a New York nightclub. Send for Childs’ new book, ‘Lose 10 Pounds Instantly.’ ”

More quick hits: From Michael Ventre’s “Notes From the Field” column on MSNBC.com:

“* If I’m one of the top players in college football, I start acting like a jerk and spreading nasty rumors about myself, because if I don’t, there’s a darned good chance I could get drafted No. 1 by the Cincinnati Bengals....

“* I imagine the teams vying for the services of Dusty Baker are busy upgrading their day-care facilities....”

Looking back: On this day in 1928, USC routed Arizona, 78-0, at the Coliseum.

The Trojans had a 9-0-1 record that season, defeating Notre Dame, 27-14, in the final game at the Coliseum.

Buyer’s market: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported, “Falcons’ officials were concerned last month that when news got out that they were considering changing uniforms for next season, the sales of current jerseys would stop.

“But quarterback Mike Vick’s jersey was third-most popular in the NFL.”

Trivia answer: Oklahoma, 47 wins, 1953-1957, ended by Notre Dame, 7-0.

And finally: Bud Geracie of the San Jose Mercury News quoting Vick: “I have two weapons -- my legs, my arm and my brain.”

-- Mal Florence