He’s the Expert in This Field, Bar None

Darryl Strawberry, hired by the New York Yankees as a player development instructor, believes he has an advantage in trying to reach young athletes who are living in the fast lane.

“One thing I have over a lot of people,” he told James Brown on Sporting News radio, “is that I have a badge that says ‘T17169 Incarceration,’ and I will show it to the younger players and say this is what happens.”

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Trivia time: “Old placekickers never die, they just go on missing the point.” Who said it?

Something to kick about: A recent Morning Briefing item regarding the quote, “When passing, three things can happen and two of them are bad,” brought e-mails questioning its origin.

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David Meister, the chairman and chief executive of the Tennis Channel, e-mailed with a different take. Meister pointed out that when kicking, four things can happen and three are bad -- the snap is mishandled, the kick is blocked or the kick is returned for a touchdown or a long gain.

“You may know me as a tennis guy, but I’m still a New York Giant season-ticket holder,” Meister said.

Poor guy.

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An alternative: Tom FitzGerald of the San Francisco Chronicle, on playing prospects for Oakland Raider linebacker Bill Romanowski now that he has tested positive for steroids: “There’s still a way for him to continue playing. It’s called Major League Baseball.”

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Seamless solution: Wallace Matthews, writing in the New York Sun, offers one way for baseball to deal with the steroid problem.

“Seamstresses will work overtime this winter altering uniforms for former sluggers who suddenly have decided to drop weight and become singles hitters,” Matthews wrote.

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Sleep deprivation: From Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times: “Q: What do Notre Dame football players and Ohio State professors have in common? A: One can’t wake up the echoes, and the other can’t wake up Maurice Clarett.”

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Taking a shot: TBS studio analyst Brian Bosworth, on Keyshawn Johnson’s being on the sideline at the UCLA-USC game: “Mister team guy, thanks for showing up.”

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Mixed reaction: Johnson said his reception from fans in the stands was generally good Saturday. “Except when I walked in front of the UCLA rooting section,” he added.

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He wants the puck: On a recent “Break the Ice” pregame show on Fox Sports Net, host Jim Fox, interviewing King center Derek Armstrong, said, “Luc Robitaille told me this morning he says to the centerman, ‘I’m like a 7-11, I’m always open.’ ”

Said Armstrong: “He tells me that, but I think he tells that to every player he has played with.”

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Trivia answer: Lou Groza.

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Top fish: Janice Hough of Palo Alto in an e-mail to the San Francisco Chronicle: “Saw that the Steinhart Aquarium [in Golden Gate Park] was going to honor the nation’s oldest fish. What, another award for Jack McKeon?”

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Larry Stewart can be reached at larry.stewart@latimes.com.