Or simply ask Hugo the chimp

Because of semifinal defeats by UCLA and Georgetown in basketball Saturday, the longest-running debate in college sports begins today back at square one.

Which is the best way to determine a national champion, BCS methodology or March Madness bracketology?

It makes no difference at all.

Whichever way you choose, the result remains the same -- Florida against Ohio State in the title game.

It can be argued that the BCS is less time consuming. Except Ohio State’s football team required 51 days to go from regular-season finale to title game. Ohio State’s basketball team needed only three weeks.

It can be argued that the basketball bracket is more fun. Except listening to Michigan alumni gripe and moan for 51 days has an entertainment value all its own.

It can be argued that the BCS produces a national champion without any involvement at all by Jim Nantz and Billy Packer.

Debate over. Advantage, clear-cut: BCS.

Trivia time

What do the college careers of Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor and Jerry West have in common?

Trumped by a hair

Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Fla., has been fired from Golf Digest’s latest list of “America’s 100 Greatest Courses,” a snub that has prompted Donald Trump to fight back.

Claiming his course was dropped because he refused to advertise in the magazine, Trump told the New York Post, “Golf Digest is a disgrace to their profession. They should be ashamed of themselves.”

Trump said Golf Digest publisher Thomas Bair “came to my office and told me the only way I’ll get the ratings I deserve was if I advertised. I said, ‘No thanks’ and sent him on his way.

“Can you believe it? The magazine had already told me that I have built the best new courses in this country in years, but then they say I have to advertise to make it in? It’s unbelievable.”

Jerry Tarde, editor of Golf Digest, responded by saying he thought Trump had to be kidding because “Nobody can buy their way on the list.”

Another possible explanation for the Trump course’s exclusion: That really bad comb-over on the 18th green.

They cannot be

serious. Can they?

Today, the Dodgers have dispatched several representatives into the community to mingle with fans at sports bars and restaurants while watching the team’s season opener against Milwaukee.

Unintentionally or not, several of the pairings come equipped with themes.

Frank and Jamie McCourt will be at Barney’s Beanery in West Hollywood, where fans can talk to them about counting beans.

Wes Parker will be at the Santa Monica Yankee Doodles, where fans can ask him about his chances of beating out Don Mattingly, Vic Power, Bill White, Keith Hernandez and J.T. Snow as the first baseman on Rawlings’ 50-year Gold Glove team.

Steve Garvey will be at the Burbank Hooters, where fans can amuse themselves by concocting the funniest punch line.

Trivia answer

They all lost NCAA title games, for Kansas, Seattle and West Virginia, respectively.

Even stranger, it was in consecutive years -- 1957 (Chamberlain’s team lost to North Carolina), 1958 (Baylor’s team lost to Kentucky) and 1959 (West’s team lost to California).

The three, of course, teamed up to lose to the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals in consecutive years.

And finally

KFWB Bret Lewis writes in an e-mail:

“There is one Chicago Bears fan who is grateful to the American judicial system ‘cause not only does he get to keep his name but he doesn’t have to change it to the name of the Colts quarterback.

“Scott Weise made the ultimate bet. He would legally change his name if his beloved Bears lost the Super Bowl. He was willing but a judge ruled it would be confusing and intrude on [Peyton] Manning’s privacy.

“The downside is this kills my plan to get dates with actresses and super models by changing my name to Tom Brady.”

mike.penner@latimes.com