Either Way, They Both Have Big Audiences

Although Georgia defensive end David Pollack ranks among the top players in college football, he won’t be included on at least one preseason honor roll.

Pollack, the 2002 Southeastern Conference player of the year, turned down an invitation to pose for Playboy’s All-American team because his religious beliefs are at odds with the magazine’s content.

The junior aspires to become a preacher.

“I was honored to be invited, of course, but I go around speaking to churches and giving my testament about living the right way,” Pollack told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Meanwhile, Playboy founder Hugh Hefner recently demonstrated his version of living right by taking to dinner the seven women he is dating to celebrate his 77th birthday.

Trivia time: Indianapolis Motor Speedway is not in Indianapolis. Where is it?

Vintage whine: Mike Bianchi recently joined the legions of sports journalists doing radio shows, but the Orlando Sentinel columnist doesn’t like the company he’s keeping.

“You could say sports radio is to intelligent conversation what Boone’s Farm is to Cabernet Sauvignon,” he wrote.

Less filling: John Elway’s Arena Football League team fired Coach Bob Beers and offensive coordinator Bobby Beers Jr., prompting Bud Geracie of the San Jose Mercury News to suggest the headline: “Elway Downs Two Beers.”

Jump start: LeBron James’ endorsement contracts worth $90 million will go a long way toward changing his lifestyle, observed Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle:

“James probably won’t have to get a summer job waiting tables at IHOP, although that would be a very appropriate place for a kid with a 37-inch vertical leap to work.”

Ice man: After 37-year-old Steve Kerr had made four three-point baskets to help the San Antonio Spurs rally to close out their series with the Dallas Mavericks, the former Palisades High standout told TNT:

“I call myself Ted Williams. They’ve had me frozen solid for the last six months and thawed me out for this.”

On a roll: The number 13 was far from unlucky at motor racing’s premier event last weekend.

Roger Penske won his 13th Indianapolis 500 as a car owner; there were 13 Toyota Racing Development track support staffers from California, all driving rental cars that had license plates with 13; Rick Lantz, Toyota race engineer on the winning car, stayed in a room that ended in 13, and winning driver Gil de Ferran won $1.3 million.

Higher education: Singer Wynonna Judd served as grand marshal for the Festival Parade in Indianapolis the day before the Indianapolis 500. She told the Indianapolis Star that she brought along her kids, whom she home-schools, so they could learn something new.

“Like, ‘How many beers are there in a six-pack?’ ” she said.

Trivia answer: Speedway, a suburb of Indianapolis.

And finally: From Jaguar Racing managing director Tony Patrick: “The best talent you can have in motor racing is to have a ballistically rich dad.”