Competitive Event Is All About Lip Service

Smooching by the pool was elevated to a new competitive level when an estimated 10,000 kisses were performed during the World Kissing Day Games last Sunday at the Italian seaside resort of Riccione.

Hundreds took part in such events as underwater, marathon and basketball kissing. In the basketball event, the couple that made the most baskets while keeping their lips locked won.

“There were some impressive performances,” event organizer Pier Pierucci said.

The longest kiss was 32 minutes, and the couple that won the underwater event lasted 29 seconds.

Trivia time: What comedian once was a part owner of the Los Angeles Rams and Cleveland Indians?

Dead issue: Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle, commenting on the handful of major league players who voted for Babe Ruth as the greatest living baseball player in a Sports Illustrated poll:

“Can you believe it? And Ted Williams didn’t get a single vote! Two of these same voters, in the last U.S. presidential election, wrote in Grover Cleveland Alexander.”

Deep freeze: Paola Boivin of the Arizona Republic said that in the parking lot of the Alcor Life Extension Foundation in Scottsdale, Ariz., where Williams’ frozen body is stored, sits a single vehicle with this bumper sticker:

“This car will be frozen until future mechanics can discover how to fix it.”

Hero worship: Barry Bonds isn’t humbled often, but he told Dan Le Batard of the Miami Herald that’s how he felt after witnessing Elton John’s reaction to meeting him.

“I go backstage at his concert, awed just to meet him, and he gets on his hands and knees, started bowing and yelling, ‘MVP! MVP! MVP!’ ” Bonds said. “I’ll never forget that. One of the greatest entertainers in the world is bowing to me? I was in shock. Crazy.”

Undisclosed terms: Roger Neilson, who recently died of cancer at age 69, was once asked by tightfisted owner Harold Ballard not to reveal his salary after signing to coach the Toronto Maple Leafs.

“Oh, don’t worry, Harold,” Neilson said. “I’m as embarrassed about it as you are.”

Taking a bite: Bernie Lincicome of the Rocky Mountain News isn’t impressed with this year’s site for the British Open -- the no-frills course at Royal St. George’s Golf Club in Sandwich, England.

“Only the British Open can get away with its annual aesthetic torture, staging the thing in places that have no beauty, no style, no landscaping. Plant a geranium, for cripe’s sake.”

A cut above: Chicago Bull rookie Kirk Hinrich, the seventh pick in the NBA draft, says he might change his unruly hair style “if you [reporters] keep bugging me.”

Responded Rick Morrissey of the Chicago Tribune: “Don’t, Kirk.... Forget combing. Everyone knows that parting is such sweet sorrow.”

Trivia answer: Bob Hope.

And finally: Conan O’Brien, on the NFL starting up its own cable network: “This is good because, up until now, the only channel to find 24-hour coverage of NFL players was Court TV.”