If Not for the Courage of the Sober Crew ...

A windsurfer who set out for a brief sail off the coast of south Wales got caught in gusts that whisked him 42 miles to southwest England.

For three hours Adam Cowles dodged cargo freighters and struggled to keep his balance atop icy Bristol Channel.

It was a happy ending, though. “Even though I did not have any money,” he explained to the South Wales Evening Post, “a couple took me off to a pub and bought me some beer.”

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Trivia time: In 1920 Babe Ruth swatted 54 home runs. Only one team hit more. What team was it and how many homers did it have?

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Sticky situation: With the NHL playoffs set to begin, so is the octopus watch at Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena.

The Free Press reports that the bizarre custom of hurling the slithery mollusks dates to 1952, when local fish merchant Tony Cusimano flung one onto the ice.

Back then, it took only eight victories to win the Stanley Cup, so eight legs ...

The unofficial record was set in 1995, when fans hurled 36 octopi, including one that weighed 30 pounds.

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Problem solved: In covering the Asia Hockey League, Tokyo’s Asahi Shimbun expressed relief that Anyang Halla has decided to use first names instead of last names on jerseys.

The newspaper explains: “There are no fewer than nine Kims on the team. And four Lees.”

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A no-news flash: Taking note of Brett Favre’s indecision regarding retirement, Greg Cote of the Miami Herald exclaimed:

“This just in. Brett Favre has scheduled a news conference to announce he has canceled a news conference at which he was expected to reveal he had not made up his mind whether to retire.”

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More Cote: “Muhammad Ali has sold 80% of marketing rights to his name and likeness for $50 million. Cannot confirm that means he keeps the ‘Mu’ but gives the ‘hammad Ali.’ ”

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Off-color: The Home Depot has unveiled a line of paint in the color of 125 college and pro teams. Dodger blue, presumably, looks bright in spring but is prone to fading in the summer.

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Home sweet homers: Odds favor Barry Bonds blasting home run No. 715 in San Francisco. Why? The slugger logged Nos. 500, 600 and 700 at home.

He broke the single-season record there too, with Nos. 71, 72 and 73 against the Dodgers. It’s also where he passed Willie McCovey, plunking No. 522 into the cove named after the Hall of Fame first baseman.

Hitting No. 715 at home, presumably, would be extra special for Bonds -- because it is the only park in which he’s likely to be cheered for the feat.

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Good question: Of struggling Texas Ranger outfielder Laynce Nix, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Jennifer Floyd Engel asks, “Seriously, is .071 really a batting average?”

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Trivia answer: The Philadelphia Phillies, with 64 homers.

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And finally: From Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel: “How long until ESPN gives the Duke lacrosse team its own reality show?”