Birdies Could Keep This Bride Waiting

Candace Beatty and about 300 guests will have more than a passing interest in the third-round pairings for the PGA Tour’s WGC-NEC Invitational later this month in Akron, Ohio.

That’s because Beatty will be waiting at the church for her fiance, British Open champion Ben Curtis.

“The invitations were printed a while ago, of course, and they say, ‘Saturday, Aug. 23, 2003, at 5 p.m.,’ ” Curtis told GolfWorld magazine. “But I might not be able to make that, and we’ve told everybody ... it might be a little later if I’m in the last group, which would be nice. Or there could be a weather problem.”

Before this season, Curtis’ winnings amounted to $6,020, so even after his British Open payday, he isn’t passing up the $6-million tournament at Akron’s Firestone Country Club, a mere 20 minutes from the United Methodist Church in the couple’s hometown of Kent, Ohio. He’ll keep his tuxedo in the locker room.

“Helicopter?” Curtis said. “Haven’t thought about that. Police escorts, we’ve had offers. A few friends thought we should just move the date, but we planned this a year and a half ago. Then everything changed.”

From 396th in the world to British Open champion.

Maybe they should toast this marriage with the Claret Jug.

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Trivia time: Who holds the NFL record for receptions in a season?

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Minor luxuries: Mike Piazza is on a rehabilitation assignment with the New York Mets’ triple-A team in Norfolk, Va., as he recovers from a groin injury.

Lucky teammates. He’ll be paying for some catered meals while he’s with the Tides, something of a tradition during a big leaguer’s stint in the minors.

Piazza was heard to say something about steak and lobster. They might hold him to it.

“That’s another incentive for me to get back to the big leagues, so I don’t have to keep picking up the spreads for these guys,” he told reporters.

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Changing times: Twenty-eight years ago today, the Dodgers’ Davey Lopes stole his 32nd consecutive base without being caught in a 2-0 victory over the New York Mets, breaking Max Carey’s 1922 record.

Lopes added six more steals to the record before being caught on Aug. 24. He finished with 77 stolen bases that season.

Only two Dodgers have 50 or more stolen bases in a season since Lopes: Steve Sax (56 in 1982) and Eric Young (51 in 1999).

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Trivia answer: Marvin Harrison of the Indianapolis Colts. He set the record last season with 143.

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Eyes on the prize: Keyshawn Johnson of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers isn’t bashful about calling for the ball. But he values his Super Bowl ring even more.

“I don’t want Marvin Harrison’s statistics,” Johnson told Associated Press. “I think if you asked him, he’d obviously take mine with a Super Bowl ring. I would take anybody’s statistics with a ring.”

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And finally: The New York papers sent writers to Norfolk to witness Piazza’s debut, and Bob Molinaro of the Virginian-Pilot wondered how long this could continue.

“How many questions can you ask -- or hear asked -- about a man’s groin? How many do you really want to ask? The limits of this mystery will be tested during Piazza’s stay.”

-- Robyn Norwood