In a Way, Dodgers Already Off to a Sensational Start

Woody Paige of the Denver Post writing on media mogul Rupert Murdoch being approved as the new owner of the Dodgers:

“Does this mean that: The Dodgers will have bare-breasted batgirls? The Dodgers will play Australian Rules Baseball? The Dodgers’ program will feature a story entitled ‘Monica Lewinsky and Mike Piazza Have Secret Love Child?’

“Rupert Murdoch is Dodger Blue, and the sun never sets on his empire. Who’s next to buy a baseball franchise--Goldfinger?”

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Trivia time: Which was the first school to participate in the National Invitation and NCAA basketball tournaments in the same year?

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Rubbing it in: Headline in Sunday’s Salt Lake Tribune: “Miller Reduces Cocky Champs To an Errorzona.”

The reference, of course, was to Andre Miller, who led Utah to a stunning 76-51 victory over Arizona on Saturday in the NCAA West Regional championship game.

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Say it isn’t so: Greg Hansen in the Arizona Daily-Star: “Are you telling me Utah lost to Wyoming last month? What, was there snow on the court?”

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He wasn’t choked: Kansas Coach Roy Williams, apparently still shocked over the Jayhawks’ surprise loss to Rhode Island in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, has received many calls of support from coaching colleagues.

Among those offering encouragement was Golden State’s P.J. Carlesimo. “He told me, ‘It could be a lot worse,’ ” Williams said.

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Dog stuff: It has been reported that Marge Schott recently named the streets at the Cincinnati Reds’ new spring training complex Schottzie Avenue and Schottzie 02.

Said Michael Ventre of MSNBC: “Watch where you step at that intersection.”

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That’s my boy: From reader Stan Kaplan: “Recently, my 8-year-old grandson threw a baseball that broke a window in his dad’s house, but was not punished because his dad replied: ‘It curved.’ ”

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Maybe next year: Tennessee women’s basketball Coach Pat Summitt was honored to be featured on a recent Sports Illustrated cover, but she quipped: “I was kind of hoping to make the swimsuit issue.”

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Wrong target? Craig Kilborn of Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” on two women suing Mike Tyson for sexual harassment: “The women deny they are gold diggers and they say, ‘If we wanted Mike Tyson’s money, we’d go after Don King.’ ”

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Trivia answer: Utah in 1944. The Utes lost in the first round of the NIT to Kentucky, but then won the NCAA tournament by beating Dartmouth, 42-40, in overtime.

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And finally: Author/broadcaster Dick Schaap notes that of the five players from the late Vince Lombardi’s great Packer teams who have died, all five have been defensive players, most recently Ray Nitschke.

Said Schaap: “I guess Vince is building his defense first up there.”

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Quotebook: Utah basketball Coach Rick Majerus, who is as bald as Lute Olson is impeccably coiffed, when asked to compare himself to the Arizona coach: “I don’t have as many combs.”