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There’s Just No Way to Massage These Facts

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Times Staff Writer

Things are not going well for Trevor Graham, coach of 100-meter co-world-record holder Justin Gatlin and several other track and field athletes who have been hit with doping allegations.

Graham is being investigated for alleged doping violations, and he was earlier banned from all U.S. Olympic training sites. This was after Graham blamed Gatlin’s positive drug test on a vengeful masseuse.

Concluded Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times: “Looks like the old masseuse excuse must’ve rubbed somebody the wrong way.”

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Trivia time: What former UCLA safety returned a fumble for a touchdown and intercepted a pass to set up another score in the Dallas Cowboys’ 30-13 victory over the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVIII in 1994?

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They meet again: Reggie Bush today gets another shot at Vince Young, who led Texas past USC in the national championship game at the 2006 Rose Bowl, this time when Bush’s New Orleans Saints play Young’s Tennessee Titans in an NFL exhibition. One difference: LenDale White is on Young’s side.

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The answer is no: When Texas Coach Mack Brown was on FSN’s “Best Damn Sports Show Period” this week, former USC quarterback Rodney Peete asked him for a sideline pass to the Ohio State-Texas game at Austin on Sept. 9. Said Brown: “Last time I saw you, you were on the opposite sideline. So call Ohio State -- we’re full.”

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Good point: At a recent UCLA basketball reunion that included a lot of good-natured ribbing, John Wooden took a shot at Keith Erickson about his shooting ability.

If truth be told, as reader Jerry Clark pointed out, had Erickson not scored 28 points in a 90-84 semifinal victory over Kansas State in 1964, Wooden might have had to wait until 1965 to win his first national championship.

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Gore-y details: Reader David Macaray recalled this quote from the late Texas coach Abe Lemons about playing Wooden’s UCLA teams: “It ends just like any other bullfight. The matador sticks it in you, and then the donkeys come out and drag you away.”

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High school reunion: At last weekend’s Pro Football Hall of Fame inductions, Warren Moon was introduced by agent Leigh Steinberg, each having attended Los Angeles’ Hamilton High. Al Michaels, who announced the Hall of Fame game the next day, is another Hamilton High alum.

During his speech, Moon thanked his Hamilton coaches, Jack Epstein and Ron Price. Coincidently, Price’s son Chuck, a quarterback at Hamilton, is one of Matt Leinart’s agents.

Passing all this information along was reader Richard Crasnick. Wonder what high school he attended?

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Looking back: On this day in 2000, Evander Holyfield scored a 12-round unanimous decision over John Ruiz to win the vacant WBA heavyweight title.

Trivia answer: James Washington.

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And finally: Swimmer Amanda Beard, on being named FHM’s sexiest athlete, said on the “Best Damn Sports Show Period”: “It’s really embarrassing.”

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