An Old Guy Bubbles Over With Enthusiasm

Golfer Jay Haas, who turns 50 in December, has been defying age and shooting past many of the game’s younger set this year. He was fifth at the PGA Championship -- his seventh top-10 finish of the year -- and he already has earned a career-high $2.29 million, 10th on the season money list.

“My new first name is ‘49-year-old’ and it doesn’t bother me one bit,” Haas told the Tampa (Fla.) Tribune.

Last week, Jack Nicklaus made Haas a captain’s choice for the U.S. President’s Cup team. It will be Haas’ first appearance in international team competition since the 1983 Ryder Cup.

“A few weeks ago, I was looking at a scrapbook and we were dumping champagne on Jack Nicklaus’ head after the matches,” Haas said. “Who would have ever thought I could have been dumping champagne on Jack’s head?”

They’re both hoping he gets another chance.

Trivia time: Which are the only two teams to win wild-card spots in the baseball playoffs in consecutive seasons?

Loud debut: Many of Paolo Di Canio’s new teammates at Charlton of the English Premier League heard the just-traded striker before they saw him. Di Canio warmed up for his first game with the Addicks by singing opera in the locker room.

“I walked into the dressing room and Paolo had Italian opera on the CD,” goalkeeper Dean Kiely said. “He was singing along and actually, he’s quite good. We’ve never had opera in the dressing room before, but we’re quite open-minded at Charlton.”

Of course they are, as long as the fat lady doesn’t start singing.

FYI: Indian first baseman Travis Hafner is nicknamed “Pronk.” The moniker is derived from a combination of “Project” and “Donkey.”

Welcome guest? Fidel Castro, an avid sports fan, reportedly wants to attend next year’s Olympics, but Greek officials aren’t exactly rolling out the red carpet for the Cuban president.

“There are no decisions yet from the Greek government on who will be invited to the Olympic Games,” government spokesman Christos Protopappas said. “It is early.... We have not excluded anyone.”

Lake’s superior: Jim Dreyer called off his attempt to swim across Lake Superior last week as he neared the halfway point. High winds had deflated a raft following him and he was suffering severe leg cramps in the 55-degree water.

Dreyer, who had swum, across Lake Michigan in 1998, Lake Huron in 1999 and Lake Erie and Lake Ontario in 2000, is now 0 for 4 in attempts to cross Lake Superior and become the second person to conquer all of the Great Lakes.

Canada’s Vicki Keith, who completed her Great Lakes Slam in 1988, is the only person known to have swum across all five lakes.

Trivia answer: The Mets won the 1999 and 2000 National League wild card and the Red Sox won the American League wild card in 1998 and 1999.

And finally: From Steve Hummer in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “You know it is just a matter of time before somebody -- probably his son -- comes out with a new Ted Williams bobblehead doll. The head doesn’t jiggle, it just falls off.”

-- John Weyler