Fishermen Far From Being Off the Hook

Three Russians recently blew up a train headed to their favorite fishing spot when the dynamite they’d planned to use to help them catch fish accidentally exploded, ananova.com reported.

Dynamite fishing is illegal in Russia, but it remains popular anyway. The explosives are detonated in the water and stunned fish float to the surface, where they are scooped up.

Nobody was injured by the blast, which destroyed part of the rail car. Wrote Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times: “Police did make the catch of the day: Three Russian fishermen.”

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Trivia time: Before Roger Bannister of England became the first to run the mile in under four minutes -- he ran it in 3:59.4 on May 6, 1954 -- who held the previous record for eight years and 293 days?

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Punch drunk: Complaining about the lack of quality heavyweight boxers these days, Jim Armstrong of the Denver Post wrote, “I’d rather watch George Foreman and Joe Frazier fight over prunes at a salad bar than pay to see these other geeks.”

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Hot, hot, hot: Sports Illustrated recently asked 248 basketball players: “What NBA city do you most like to visit as a player?” Miami led the way with 32% of the vote, followed by Los Angeles with 20% and New York with 17%. Cleveland, New Orleans, Oakland and Sacramento didn’t receive a single vote.

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It’s good to be king: Ron Artest couldn’t have been among those surveyed by Sports Illustrated. When Artest, one of the newest members of the Sacramento Kings, was a guest Wednesday on FSN’s “Best Damn Sports Show Period,” he was asked if this is the happiest he has been in the NBA.

“Actually when I got my first paycheck as a rookie, I was a little happier,” he said. “But I’m feeling pretty good.”

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What’s next? David McGill of Omaha won the USA Rock Paper Scissors League championship Monday in Las Vegas. About 250 competitors vied for the $50,000 grand prize.

Seriously.

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Politically correct: There seemed to be more booing than cheering when Vice President Dick Cheney threw out the first pitch at the Washington Nationals’ home opener on Tuesday, according to Jeff Gordon of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

New York Met third baseman David Wright, who was pleased to meet Cheney before the game, rationalized the rough greeting:

“When you’ve got 50% of America that’s Republican, 50% that’s Democrat, you’re probably going to get mixed reviews.”

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Looking back: On this date in 1910 in Washington, William Howard Taft became the first president to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Washington Senator legend Walter Johnson, who caught the president’s pregame toss, went on to throw a one-hitter in a 3-0 victory over the Philadelphia Athletics.

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Trivia answer: Gunder Haegg of Sweden, who ran the mile in 4:01.4 on July 17, 1945.

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And finally: From David Letterman: “This is an important announcement. They’re limiting beer sales at Yankee Stadium, so they’re requesting that all fans arrive at the park drunk.”