Fired or Fired Up, He’s a Real Stickler

Lisa Guerrero was asked by Adam Schefter of the Denver Post what had possessed MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann to viciously rip her hiring by ABC.

“He made a funny comment about the fact that John Madden and Al Michaels should quit,” Guerrero said. “Which is ironic because what does he know about quitting? He’s only been fired from every job he’s ever had.”

Olbermann, responding in an e-mail to the Post, said, “In 24 years in broadcasting, I have never been fired from a job.”

Olbermann can sniff out a negative comment anywhere.

Trivia time: What do 2004 Summer Olympic television hosts Olbermann (MSNBC), Jim Lampley (NBC daytime) and Pat O’Brien (Bravo) have in common?

Sponsor’s delight: The top three finishers in the PGA Championship, Shaun Micheel, Chad Campbell and Tim Clark, all endorse Cleveland Golf and wear caps with Cleveland logos.

The 1-2-3 finish generated $4-4.5 million worth of publicity, the research firm of Joyce Julius & Associates told USA Today.

GolfWeek reported that it was believed to be the first time in modern golf history that the top three finishers in a major all represented the same golf club manufacturer.

Cad caddies: Nothing like a good caddie joke. Doug Robarchek of the Charlotte Observer offers these:

* Golfer: “I think I’ll drown myself in the lake.” Caddie: “Think you can keep your head down that long?”

* Golfer: “Do you think I can get there with a five-iron?” Caddie: “Eventually.”

* Golfer: “You’ve got to be the worst caddie in the world.” Caddie: “I don’t think so, sir. That would be too much of a coincidence.”

* Golfer: “How do you like my game?” Caddie: “I prefer golf.”

Tough boss: It’s hard to imagine Bill Walton as a president and CEO but that’s the role he plays in the first of a series of commercials for the NBA League Pass pay-TV package. It will begin airing during Game 2 of the WNBA finals Sept. 14.

Walton is shown encouraging his “sales staff,” played by current NBA players, to get ready to man the phones. When Richard Jefferson becomes distracted by a batch of cookies in front of him, he gets a tongue lashing from Walton.

“Richard,” Walton bellows, “the cookies are for closers only.”

Heavy favorite: From Mike Downey in the Chicago Tribune: “California would vote for Seabiscuit if his name were on the ballot. In a debate [among] Larry Flynt, Gary Coleman and a horse, I would bet on the horse.”

Looking back: On this day in 1969, Mexico’s Ruben Olivares knocked out Australia’s Lionel Rose before 17,125 at the Forum, taking the world bantamweight title from Rose. Olivares will be honored by the Golden State Boxers Assn. at a luncheon Saturday at the Old Spaghetti Factory in Hollywood.

Trivia answer: They have all worked for KCBS Channel 2.

And finally: Michael Wilbon in the Washingon Post, on the drunk-driving arrest of Kwame Brown, the former No. 1 pick who has been a bust with the Wizards: “His personal life needs even more work than his professional life, and that’s saying something.”

-- Larry Stewart