Schalke supporters say ‘shush’

They could have booed and whistled for their soccer team or sang some harsh family-unfriendly songs.

Instead, Schalke 04 supporters selected another path to express their growing displeasure with an underachieving side: silence.

For the opening 19 minutes and four seconds of Schalke 04’s German league game against Bayern Munich, there was an unusual quiet at the Arena AufSchalke on Sunday.

The silent protest -- based on the year the team was founded, 1904 -- produced mixed results as Schalke scored two goals in the first half but had to settle for a 2-2 tie.

“Playing 19 minutes at home without the support of our own fans will not be very nice, but we have to accept their decision,” Coach Mirko Slomka told reporters Friday before the game.

Imagine if this turned into a trend, making its way to the United States. Briefing HQ can think of three lackluster hockey teams possibly deserving such silent treatment.

1) The Kings: 19 minutes and 67 seconds.

2) The Phoenix Coyotes: 19 minutes and 79 seconds, based on the Winnipeg Jets’ entry into the NHL. And add another two minutes for moving from Winnipeg to Phoenix.

3) The Chicago Blackhawks: 19 minutes and 26 seconds, plus a penalty of five more minutes for not making the playoffs since the 2001-02 season.

Squeezing the Orangemen

So what if Syracuse University’s teams aren’t called the Orangemen any longer?

The university, which now goes by the Orange, filed a federal lawsuit last month against a new pro team in the American Basketball Assn., according to the Central New York Business Journal.

The Florida team, based in Orlando, wanted to call itself “Orange Men.” But Syracuse officials said that the name is “very clearly associated” with the university and took legal action.

No word on whether male residents of the city of Orange are objecting too.

Trivia time

How many times have the Blackhawks lost in the Stanley Cup final since their last Cup win, in the 1960-61 season?

World of hurt

It’s a good thing Anna Kournikova was not known for a strong serve, first or second.

She stepped in for Chris Evert midway through the first set in a feature match Sunday at Evert’s charity fundraising event in Delray Beach, Fla., and promptly hit her partner in the back with a serve.

Her partner? None other than former President Bush. He said he was not hurt.

“The Cold War has been over for a long time,” said chair umpire Jim Courier.

Trivia answer

Five times.

Chicago beat the Red Wings to win the Stanley Cup in 1961. Their last appearance in the finals came in the 1991-92 season, when they were swept by Pittsburgh.

And finally

Newly minted marathoner Lance Armstrong, asked by reporters after Sunday’s race in New York whether he would take part in another one: “The answer right now is no, I’ll never be back. But I reserve the right to change my mind.”

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lisa.dillman@latimes.com