But Can Martha Stewart Hit the Three?

Apparently, we’ve been wasting time all these years, reading the wrong advice columns.

Move over Dear Abby and Ask Amy. Put aside those back issues of “Jake: A Man’s Opinion” in Glamour magazine and make room for the Dallas Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki. The German-born forward has been getting attention for his advice column on NBA.com.

There was a recent plug in the Sporting News, where we learn that he doesn’t like super-skinny women, and advises one woman in Texas on how to get her husband to pay less attention to video games.

But he has admirable range and humor. Jason from Provo, Utah, asked Nowitzki to recommend a centerpiece for his wedding day. This was the response:

“I suggest bouquets of 15 long-stemmed, yellow roses in clear or green vases. If you want to add some light to the display, you should consider putting matching votives around the vases.”

Trivia time: How many rounds were in the NFL draft from 1967 to 1976?

No way, Jose: Speaking of writers, Florida Marlin reliever Todd Jones’ “other” career is starting to take off. Jones already has posted a couple of entries on the website of the Palm Beach Post. Now comes a weekly column in the Sporting News and he was quoted by the Miami Herald as saying the Marlins were “kind of apprehensive” about the prospect.

“They think I’m going to blab signs, talk about personal things, but I’m not going to write anything controversial,” he told the newspaper. “I’m not going to be Jose Canseco Jr.”

A first? Utah quarterback Alex Smith could be the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft and Ute center Andrew Bogut could be the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft.

Fifteen candles: Spanish golfer Carlota Ciganda, who turns 15 on June 1, will have something of a late birthday present when she plays in the women’s British Open in July.

“I’m not going to be nervous. I’m going to have fun,” Ciganda told Bloomberg news service.

One reason for a possible lack of nerves: She is said to be able to hit a golf ball 273 yards.

Jay says: NBC’s impending plunge back into NFL waters got this reaction from Jay Leno the other day: “Up till now, the closest thing NBC has had to a football helmet was Donald Trump’s hair.

“NBC is paying the NFL $600 million to televise these games. That’s a lot. We only paid $1.99 for Arena football. Of course, since it’s NBC, it will be called, “Law and Order: Special Football Unit.”

Trivia answer: In those years, the draft consisted of 17 rounds. It was cut to seven rounds in 1994, from 12.

And finally: Managing partner Robert Sarver of the Phoenix Suns told the Arizona Republic what was going through his (nervous) mind when Steve Nash, who grew up in Canada, put on skates Tuesday morning to work out with NHL players as they prepared for a “Hockey Night in Phoenix” exhibition:

“When I saw him out there, I was like, ‘Oh, my Lord!’ Steve’s a competitor and wanted to get a few goals out there, but I was very happy once he was off the ice.”