Now They Can Let Fists Do the Talking

Reporters at Rams Park cannot recall a situation as tense as the one that played out earlier this week -- in the media room.

St. Louis sportscasters Steve Savard and Kevin Slaten have been feuding and were nearing fisticuffs -- “Take your best shot,” Slaten dared; “Anytime, anywhere,” Savard countered -- when separated by others.

A solution appears imminent. The two may square off in the ring during a coming charity event. As quoted in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Savard said, “Three rounds. The loser shuts his mouth.”

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Trivia time: The Boston Celtics, starting in 1957, won 11 of 13 NBA championships under coaches Red Auerbach and Bill Russell. Who was the only other coach to win championships during that span?

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Whew! They had a scare on their hands recently in Germany, when a van overturned and spilled a passel of large, deadly snakes onto the street, prompting a call for emergency workers to round them up.

Writes Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times: “Fortunately, full-blown panic was averted when residents were assured the snakes were merely poisonous vipers and boa constrictors, not sports agents.”

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‘All Shook Up:’ That’s the title of the Elvis Presley song that blared on the public-address system last Saturday whenever Louisville’s Elvis Dumervil made a big hit during the romp over Oregon State.

The Tuscaloosa News reports that the defensive end did not know the tune was in his honor until a teammate told him.

“I appreciate it, I guess,” he said. Asked whether he had anything in common with “the King,” besides the name, Dumervil replied, “I’m just a football player.”

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Dog’s best friend: Lance Armstrong’s 9-month-old Labrador, Rex, is said to be recovering nicely from open-heart surgery to replace a defective valve. The seven-time Tour de France champion sent his best friend to Colorado State’s veterinary hospital to have the pioneering surgery performed. Rex is expected to live well past puppyhood.

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Good question: In response to a Los Angeles Times editorial Thursday regarding Stanford’s unthinkable loss to UC Davis, John Ryan of the San Jose Mercury News writes, “Wonder who’s the Davis alum on the editorial board?”

The columnist continued, “ ‘No matter how tough the odds, those who want something badly enough have a chance to attain it,’ The Times concluded, clearly unfamiliar with the BCS.”

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Well stated: International Boxing Assn. heavyweight champion James “Lights Out” Toney, 37, on whether he expects much of a struggle from challenger Dominick Guinn next Saturday at Reno Events Center: “I think the state of the division, except me, is terrible.”

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Trivia answer: Alex Hannum, who coached the St. Louis Hawks to the 1958 championship and Philadelphia 76ers to the 1967 championship.

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And finally: Comedian Argus Hamilton on the return of Barry Bonds: “He’s lucky to be alive. Doctors ordered him out of the lineup in March when tests revealed he had blood in his steroids stream.”