No Hissing, Scratching or Biting Allowed

Just in time for Halloween: International Boxing Federation super-lightweight champion Ricky Hatton has confessed to the Sun of London that he is deathly afraid of cats. He has been since he was clawed in the face as an infant.

Writes Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times: “In other boxing news, Hatton’s next opponent -- WBA champ Carlos Maussa -- asked that reporters start referring to him by his new nickname. Tiger.”

Trivia time: The White Sox’s triumph in four games over the Astros comes a year after the Red Sox’s sweep of the Cardinals.

When was the last time there was a World Series sweep in consecutive years, and what teams were involved?

He said what? White Sox Manager Ozzie Guillen told reporters this week that being bilingual comes in handy because “players can’t talk behind your back.” But, he added, Tadahito Iguchi “is the one guy who can say anything and I’ll never figure it out.”

Canine caper: Talk about being in the doghouse. Xavier point guard Dedrick Finn has been suspended for the Musketeers’ first exhibition game and labeled an embarrassment to “our university, our program, his family and himself” by Coach Sean Miller.

What did Finn do to incur such wrath? Allegedly, he stole his former girlfriend’s dog.

Dreaded locks: Looking into his crystal ball, David Thomas of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram sees Commissioner David Stern going beyond the NBA’s new dress code to improve the league’s image:

“Nov. 22, Raptors at Suns: Steve Nash misses his first game because of injury and wears a nice suit on the Suns’ bench. But Stern decides to institute a hairstyle policy.”

Stan the Doomsayer: The Miami Heat’s woeful start in the exhibition season -- four double-digit losses, two against the league’s worst teams -- caused Coach Stan Van Gundy to say that his team had hit “rock bottom.”

Dan Le Batard of the Miami Herald says it is far too early to make such an assessment. “What is going to be Van Gundy’s phrase if the Heat starts 1-2? Apocalyptic? Wilma-ish?” Le Batard writes.

“And, if Miami starts 6-10, is the lovable Van Misery simply going to start his postgame news conference by getting behind the microphones and hanging himself?”

For what it’s worth: Assuming both teams remain unbeaten, PinnacleSports.com has established USC a 5 1/2 -point favorite over Texas in the national championship game at the Rose Bowl.

The Trojans would be favored by 7 1/2 points over Virginia Tech. Texas would be favored by 2 1/2 over the Hokies.

Trivia answer: The New York Yankees swept the San Diego Padres in 1998 and the Atlanta Braves in 1999.

And finally: From Jim Armstrong of the Denver Post: “According to USA Today, 71,000 Americans are more than 100 years old -- 71,001 if you count Viking Coach Mike Tice, who has aged 60 years since training camp.”