After This Collapse, Any Excuse Will Do

The Seattle Seahawks led the St. Louis Rams by 17 points with 5 minutes 34 seconds to play in regulation Sunday and ended up losing in overtime.

Wrote Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times: “The Seahawks, saying lopsided games aren’t good for players, fans or TV ratings, are reportedly pushing the NFL to reduce blowouts by invoking a 17-point mercy rule any time after three quarters.

“And, if possible, retroactive to noon Sunday.”

Trivia time: What was unusual about the 1921, ’22 and ’44 World Series?

No-win situation: Regarding tonight’s presidential debate going up against two baseball playoff games, Fox Senior Vice President Lou D’Ermilio said, “They knew baseball was scheduled. I’m not sure if they knew there were two games scheduled, but they could’ve chosen another date for their third debate.”

Ego uncovered: Terrell Owens, in an interview with Peter King on tonight’s edition of HBO’s “Inside the NFL,” says Michael Vick is the best player in the league. But Owens has not suddenly become humble. Asked by King where he would rank himself on the list, Owens says, “Probably right behind him. He’s probably No. 1, I’m 1-A.”

Hockey is here: The Philadelphia Flyers and Tampa Bay Lightning play on television tonight at 7. No, the lockout isn’t over. It’s the opening of a virtual hockey season on G4techTV, a new network designed for video game enthusiasts that is carried on DirecTV satellite systems and Adelphia, Time Warner and Comcast cable systems.

If the owners in this league lock out the players, is it called a “virtual impasse”?

State of panic: Nebraska’s 70-10 loss at Texas Tech has dented the pride of Cornhusker faithful entering Saturday’s game against Baylor.

“I pray to God we win this weekend,” Bob Knowles, president of Nebraska’s Touchdown Club, told the Omaha World-Herald. “I certainly think we will, but if we don’t, we may have to shut the state down next week.”

A real yes man: Marv Albert, according to the New York Post, will announce some New Jersey Net games for New York’s YES Network. He’ll fill in for Ian Eagle when Eagle has CBS commitments.

How appropriate -- Albert working for the YES Network.

Looking back: On this day in 1960, Bill Mazeroski opened the bottom of the ninth with a home run against the New York Yankees’ Ralph Terry to give the Pittsburgh Pirates a 10-9 victory in Game 7 of the World Series.

Trivia answer: All games were played in one ballpark. In 1921 and ‘22, the New York Giants and Yankees played at the Polo Grounds, which was the home field for both teams. In 1944, the St. Louis Browns and St. Louis Cardinals played at Sportsman’s Park, the home field for both.

And finally: Jay Mariotti of the Chicago Sun-Times, on Sammy Sosa’s skipping out on the Chicago Cubs’ final game: “The most fraudulent day off since Ferris Bueller.”

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