New York goes soft on the Boss

File this under Headlines You Never Thought You’d See:

“N.Y. Media Calls for Restraint on Steinbrenner Reports”

The decline of Yankees owner George Steinbrenner’s health has prompted sympathy from other reporters after a magazine writer described the Boss as mentally confused and looking “dreadful” and “bloated,” SportsBusiness Daily noted.

The writer, Franz Lidz of Conde Nast Portfolio, visited Steinbrenner unannounced at his Florida home with an old friend of Steinbrenner.

Reaction from Newsday’s Wallace Matthews:

“There is no joy in kicking an old man, even if the old man once was a bully and a tyrant. There is nothing proud about trying to trip him up, or cajoling him into saying something stupid or damaging, even if every utterance out of his mouth, no matter how banal or foolish, once was automatic back-page news.

“There is nothing courageous about mugging a septuagenarian, even if his name is George M. Steinbrenner III.”

Even some of the Boston media concurred.

Boston Globe columnist Bob Ryan on ESPN’s “Pardon the Interruption”:

“There’s no gloating to be done from old Yankee-haters. This is a sad story.”

Trivia time

How many different tenures as Yankees manager did Billy Martin serve under Steinbrenner?

Not quite contrite

Adam “Pacman” Jones, suspended for the 2007 NFL season for his off-the-field conduct -- including his alleged role in a Las Vegas strip-club melee -- has found a way to fill his time by signing with Total Nonstop Action wrestling.

“I respect wrestling and I’m not coming in like it’s just a show,” Jones said. “I want to prove that I am the greatest team-sport athlete.”

This comment for Jones from Bret Lewis of KFWB: “I cannot believe you can be so oblivious about what this does to your image.

“It could really hurt wrestling.”

Early warning signs? You bet!

The NBA should have seen the referee scandal coming, Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote.

Excerpts from Ostler’s list of missed warning signs about the official who allegedly bet on games:

“The ref did the Harlem Globetrotters’ old pull-down-the-shorts trick on a player shooting a free throw.”

“Gave his whistle to a courtside fan named Vinnie for the entire fourth quarter of a Knicks-Bulls game.”

“Instead of a jump ball to start the game, would take out a deck and tell the two centers to cut for the high card.”

And finally:

“His subscription to ‘Gamblin’ Ref’ magazine.”

Tribute to a Trojan

Mike Munchak, presenting former USC offensive lineman Bruce Matthews at his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, recalled Matthews’ first NFL training camp.

“He came off the ball with such quickness, got into his blocks, great finish, great work ethic. He was amazing,” said Munchak, Matthews’ teammate with the Houston Oilers and later his position coach.

Matthews’ footwork left something to be desired back then, however.

“His feet were all over the place,” Munchak said. “He was like a human weed whacker.”

Hitting ‘em where it hurts

From reader Janice Hough:

“So much of the case against Bonds rests on the fact that BALCO gave players steroids.

“But being given something doesn’t mean you use it. In fact, all of the rest of the San Francisco Giants this year were certainly given bats.”

The Giants’ .250 team batting average was the fourth-worst in the major leagues before Monday’s games.

Trivia answer

Five.

However, the Yankees have had only two managers since 1992: Buck Showalter and Joe Torre.

The Dodgers have had six in that span.

And finally

More Ostler, on those stuff-your-face seats in the right-field pavilion at Dodger Stadium:

“The Dodgers didn’t go for my suggestion to name their all-you-can-eat pavilion Lasordaville. So how about this: Since that pavilion is next to the visitor’s bullpen, call it the hogpen.”

robyn.norwood@latimes.com