A Coach Who Can Talk LPGA and MTV

Paula Creamer is in town for the Office Depot Championship at Trump National Golf Club. With the 19-year-old phenom is David Whelan, her coach for the last four years.

Whelan, 44, recalled arriving with Creamer at this year’s Women’s British Open at remote Royal Birkdale Golf Club and being told by an acquaintance how fortunate he was to have such a star pupil.

“I told him, ‘Yes, but you didn’t have to drive with her for four hours and listen to Hillary Duff full-blast all the way to the golf course,’ ” Whelan said.

Trivia time: Who is the only player who was exclusively a kicker to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

A natural wonder: Has Cardinal defensive end Chike Okeafor taken too many hits or is he onto something with all those herbs he consumes, his visits to holistic doctors and the medallion he says blocks “chaotic energy” from entering his body?

“I’ve gained back years,” he told the Arizona Republic. “I’m getting younger and younger.”

What the 6-foot-5, 265-pound, seven-year veteran has done is increase his sack total every season -- he led the Seahawks last season with 8.5 -- so apparently he has found a recipe for success.

Unpredictable: Parity in the NFL has made predicting winners as difficult as predicting the weather, notes Greg Cote of the Miami Herald:

“All of a sudden, we’re meteorologists, guessing where storms might go but really having no more idea than your uncle who senses rain when his sciatica acts up.”

Supporting argument: Sports Illustrated’s Paul Zimmerman last week went 3-7 picking his favorite teams to win straight up, or without the point spread counting against them. The renowned Peter King went 4-12. Then there was Cote’s 14-year-old son, a casual fan at best, who went 14-2 in a family competition. “He’s grounded for a month,” the columnist quipped.

Foul territory: The American Society of Microbiology, which studied the habits of restroom users at public facilities around the nation, gave Atlanta Brave fans the lowest rating, reporting that only 37% of men and 16% of women washed their hands before leaving.

Writes Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times: “But of those who did wash, we hear, 83% dried their hands by doing the Tomahawk Chop.”

Nothing to it: Count Chicago Bear defensive back Nathan Vasher, who is tied for the NFL lead with three interceptions, among those who have no regrets about their profession.

“The game is the easiest thing I have ever done in my life,” he told the Chicago Sun-Times. “That’s how I know that this is what I’m supposed to do.”

Trivia answer: Jan Stenerud, who played for the the Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings in his 19-season career.

And finally: Columnist Thomas Boswell in the Washington Post, on why the U.S. needs to win the Presidents Cup team golf competition after playing so poorly in the last two Ryder Cups: “If you can’t beat Europe and you can’t beat the Best-of-the-Rest, what’s left? A mixed scramble against Tibet?