Talk About a Season Being Out of Joint

Dwight Perry in the Seattle Times: “At the very least, a high school basketball player in Michigan gave a whole new meaning to ‘baggy shorts.’

“The unidentified player has been suspended and faces possible expulsion from Ottawa Hills High after a small bag of marijuana fell out of his uniform and onto the court during a scramble for a loose ball in Friday’s Class A district championship game.

“Ottawa Hills’ season went to pot too -- the 55-53 loss to rival Northview in the district final ended the Indians’ season.”

Trivia time: Who was the first UCLA athlete to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated?

Courageous: On Fox Sports Net’s “Best Damn Sports Show Period,” CBS golf announcer David Feherty was asked about Tiger Woods’ great start after knee surgery.

“It was a fairly serious operation,” he said. “I had a similar one a couple of years ago but I was back announcing just a day after.”

Going way back: Ron Rapoport in the Chicago Sun-Times: “Dusty Baker manages the National League All-Stars this year, and if you can remember the last Cub manager to perform that job -- and without an asterisk -- you’re no kid.

“It was Charley Grimm in 1946. Grimm and Gabby Hartnett are the only Cub managers who’ve had the honor.”

More Rapoport: “How excited are Reds fans about their new stadium? On the first day of single-game sales last week, they sold 100,000 tickets. Last year they sold 17,500.”

Bad team, man: ESPN analyst Sean Elliott, on the Clippers: “Watching the Clippers is like watching five different teams at the same time. I say that because everyone on the team is playing for himself. This is an organization that doesn’t know how to win and won’t win until they learn the team concept.”

Easy choice: Florida Panther Coach Mike Keenan explains his team’s terrible home record: “Teams from the North use it as a motivational tool. ‘Come down here and beat the Panthers, and we’re going golfing tomorrow. If we don’t, we’re going to practice.’ ”

High stakes: This from GolfWorld: “Lisa Hammond, a Las Vegas waitress who recently served Tiger Woods: ‘He ordered a cocktail and gave me a dollar ... For Vegas, if you’re getting a single drink [you should tip] at least $3.’ ”

Priorities: Chicago Bull swingman Jalen Rose, on the possibility of wearing a mouthpiece after chipping a tooth in a recent game: “I’ve worn one before. But I talk too much to wear a mouth guard.”

Clip and save: Charles Barkley, TNT commentator, on Michael Jordan’s Washington Wizards: “We have to get a fishing hat ready for him. They’re not going to make the playoffs.”

Trivia answer: Rafer Johnson, on Jan. 5, 1959.

And finally: New York Yankee left-hander David Wells, in an interview in this week’s Publisher’s Weekly regarding his new book: “I was advised by my lawyers not to say too much or it could come back to haunt me. So there’s just a nibble.” The interview was conducted in February.

-- Mal Florence