Baseball Is Certainly No Resident of Dullsville

Bob Ryan of the Boston Globe on baseball: “There are things wrong with the presentation of the game and there is a built-in institutional arrogance that refuses to acknowledge the harm that needlessly long games can do.

“Nevertheless, the essential beauty of the game endures. It is the best combination of athleticism and intellectualism we ever have known.

“Baseball gives us more to chew on before, during and after each game than basketball, football and hockey put together.

“Dull? As Red Smith famously observed, ‘Baseball is dull only to those with dull minds.’ ”

Do you agree? If not, write Ryan.

Trivia time: Who is the Dodger who shares the record for stolen bases in a World Series game with three?

It’s up to you, Lou: Gary Shelton of the St. Petersburg Times making a case for Lou Piniella to manage the Tampa Bay Devil Rays rather than the New York Mets:

* “Because a lot of people can win in New York, even Bobby Valentine. Because only Piniella can win here.

* “Because in New York, he’d be healing the sick. Because here, he’d be healing the dead.”

What’s wrong with them? Ike Nwankwo, a 6-foot-10 rookie in camp with the Cleveland Cavaliers, will never forget his debut in Turkey’s pro league. That night a goat was taken to center court.

“I thought it was a mascot,” Nwankwo told the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “They cut his throat and I couldn’t believe it.

“The coach told the players to get some of the blood and put it on their head for good luck. I wouldn’t do it and they looked at me like I was crazy. They wondered what was wrong with me.”

Elite company: Adam Kennedy, the Angels’ second baseman, was asked on Fox Sports Net’s “Best Damn Sports Show Period” what it was like to be included with Babe Ruth, Reggie Jackson and George Brett as players who have hit three home runs in a postseason game.

“It doesn’t quite fit, huh,” he said. “Pick out the name that doesn’t belong.”

Lots of splashes: From comedy writer Jerry Perisho: “Coaches with the Angels say their team will pitch to San Francisco Giant slugger Barry Bonds during the World Series.

“For the very first time, you’ll see gridlock with boats in McCovey Cove.”

Looking back: On this day in 1942, UCLA defeated California, 21-0, at Berkeley. The Bruins went on to win the Pacific Coast Conference championship before losing to Georgia, 9-0, in the Rose Bowl game.

Trivia answer: Willie Davis, on Oct. 11, 1965, against Minnesota.

And finally: After Terrell Owens caught the winning touchdown pass for the 49ers Monday night, he pulled a pen from his sock, autographed the ball and handed it to his financial advisor in the stands.

Said comedy writer Alex Kaseberg to the San Francisco Chronicle: “This is the first time a player had signed something on the field since former Baltimore Raven Tony Siragusa used his credit card to order pizza delivered in the huddle.”