Horse Sense Tells Him Not to Be Concerned

Bobby Frankel has a message for anybody worried about horse racing’s integrity being tarnished by an investigation into cheating at the Kentucky Derby.

Don’t.

The Hall of Fame trainer can think of many times where the bigger the scandal, the more interest fans showed in the sport.

“People remember Tonya Harding more than they remember Nancy Kerrigan,” Frankel told Associated Press. “Can anything be more negative in boxing than Mike Tyson? And every time he fights, everybody wants to see him.”

He’s right, of course. Just ask Staples Center President Tim Leiweke.

Trivia time: In how many regular-season games this season were the Lakers led in scoring by someone other than Shaquille O’Neal or Kobe Bryant?

Finally famous: Derby winner Funny Cide, the first New York-bred horse to win racing’s most prestigious race, was honored in a resolution by that state’s legislature this week.

“Funny Cide in 2:01.19” -- his winning time for the race -- “did what we in this Legislature have been trying to do for decades,” state Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno said. “It put us on the map.”

Yes, it’s about time New York made the map.

Men of steel: Turns out Shaquille O’Neal isn’t the first basketball star to fancy himself Superman.

In a taped segment on TNT’s “Inside The NBA” on Mother’s Day, Charcy Glenn, Charles Barkley’s mother, told a story about young Charles making a cape out of a towel and jumping from a roof in an attempt to fly.

Barkley escaped with a concussion -- and, now, with a lesson learned.

“That,” studio partner Kenny Smith said, “is why you can’t leave your mom alone in a room with a microphone.”

Mr. Honesty: After reviewing his mother’s comments, Barkley said, “I’m about to fire my mom. She and my grandmother both work for me

Spurred on: Comedian Jay Leno offered these comparisons between the hometowns of two NBA Western Conference semifinalists:

San Antonio -- Lone Star State; Los Angeles -- Porn Star State. S.A. -- Riverwalk; L.A. -- Nobody Walks. S.A. -- Don’t Mess With Texas; L.A. -- Don’t Mess With My Lexus. S.A. -- Tumbleweeds in the Streets; L.A. -- Tons of Weed in the Streets. S.A. -- Near Mexico; L.A. -- Is Mexico. S.A. -- Boots, Chaps and Whips; L.A. -- No Difference; S.A. -- Oil Derricks and Pipelines; L.A. -- Oily Man Named Derek the Pipeline.

Trivia answer: One. Devean George scored 21 against Dallas on April 8.

And finally: Charlotte’s new NBA nickname will be Bobcats, Flight or Dragons.

Bobcats plays on owner Bob Johnson’s name and would be in line with the feline theme of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers. Flight is a tribute to North Carolina’s aviation history.

Dragons has no link, but seems popular with fans, who made nearly 1,200 suggestions.

The final decision belongs to Johnson, and the club will announce his choice next month after feedback from the public is weighed.

Here’s some: Bag Bobcats.

-- Mike Hiserman