Heisman Push Could Start With a Breeze

Although some college football programs are already hyping their Heisman Trophy hopefuls -- Memphis is shipping to voters 3,500 die-cast race cars to promote DeAngelo Williams -- USC says it will let the play of Matt Leinart, the 2004 winner, and Reggie Bush, a finalist last season, do their talking.

“They’re going to get plenty of attention anyway,” sports information director Tim Tessalone told the Honolulu Advertiser. “If they sneeze this year, it will get covered.”

In the time it takes to sneeze, they could get off to a roaring start. The Trojans open Sept. 3 against Hawaii, which last season gave up 65 touchdowns and was second-to-last nationally in total defense.

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Weighty Warrior: Hoping to bolster the Hawaii defense is Reagan Mauia, a 6-foot, 330-pound junior college transfer who can bench-press 225 pounds 35 times. He was named after the nation’s 40th president. “My mother was a big fan,” he told the Advertiser. “I’m thankful she didn’t name me Ronald Reagan Mauia.”

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Trivia time: In NASCAR history, 15 car makes have made it into Victory Lane. How many can you name?

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Can’t hide: Greg Cote of the Miami Herald, reflecting on current events: “Oh, and Shaquille O’Neal, tired of gawkers, is leaving Miami’s Star Island for a waterfront mansion in Fort Lauderdale, where it is expected the 7-1, 330-pound multimillionaire sports celebrity will go entirely unnoticed.”

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Tough gal: Bull rider Clara Akers, who was born with collapsed lungs and now has only half a lung and a weak immune system, is the lone female on Colorado’s Durango Pro Rodeo circuit.

But bull-riding has improved her health, Akers, 15, told the Durango Herald, because it exposes her to dirt and bacteria, which builds her resistance. There are the animals to worry about, however. “You just hope and pray you don’t get stomped,” she said.

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Fish story: Rick Clunn told Inside BASS that during his first Bassmasters Classic he hooked something big and a mighty struggle ensued. “It would actually shake and shudder,” Clunn said of the quarry. “It really put up a tremendous fight.”

But alas, it turned out to be not a bass but ... a lawn chair.

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Scared straight: Arizona Diamondback outfielder Luis Gonzalez fears that his son Jacob, 7, has been hanging around the ballpark too much: The kid wants to be a sports reporter.

The Arizona Republic reported that Jacob, during All-Star game festivities in Detroit, greeted his father with a rolled-up paper he pretended was a microphone.

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Trivia answer: According to NASCAR.com, they are Ford, Chevrolet, Plymouth, Dodge, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Mercury, Hudson, Buick, Chrysler, AMC, Lincoln, Studebaker, Nash and Jaguar. Ford has the most appearances, 437.

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And finally: From comedian Jay Leno: “It looks like Kobe Bryant’s problems are now behind him. ... He’s back doing Nike ads again. ... I guess this shoe is for guys who want to look good while watching the NBA playoffs at home on TV.”