They Win on the List, if Not on the Field

It might be the most unforgiving top 10 list out there.

You can have a great year on all fronts -- excellent performances from all team members combined with fantastic leadership at the top of the organization -- and still not gain, and maybe even slip, in the standings.

There’s no way around it.

How do you break into a top 10 with Bill Gates, Warren Buffett and Paul Allen leading the way?

Allen, owner of football’s Seattle Seahawks and basketball’s Portland Trail Blazers, retained his No. 3 ranking at an estimated net worth of $20 billion when the 2004 edition of the Forbes 400 was released on Thursday.

Phil Anschutz, owner of the Kings and a handful of teams in the MLS, landed at No. 33, at $5.2 billion, up from last year’s estimated $5.0 billion.

One slot ahead of Anschutz is Micky Arison of the Miami Heat.

Trivia time: What is the name of the University of Texas mascot?

Just the facts: John Feinstein of Golf Digest took a look at the PGA Tour’s system of fines, and told the story of how Davis Love III successfully appealed one by stating a simple fact.

The fact was that the TPC at Sawgrass was a public course.

“When Deane [Beman] was still commissioner, I made the comment that one of the problems with the golf course was that it was a public golf course,� the golfer told Feinstein.

“Deane tried to fine me for being publicly critical of the golf course. I said, ‘I wasn’t being critical, Deane, I was just stating a fact.

“ ‘Anyone who stays in the hotel can play the golf course. That makes it a public course. You can’t fine me for stating a fact.’ �

Wi-Fi ball: It’s bound to get interesting at baseball parks if other big-league teams follow the lead of the San Francisco Giants.

Already, Wi-Fi is available at the team’s ballpark, and the organization said this week that instant replay for the computer users was in the plans for next season.

Hope that tech support will be on hand if someone gets a little overzealous with the mustard and misses the target, hitting the computer.

Crystal ball: Arizona State football Coach Dirk Koetter had a certain sense the day before last week’s home victory against then-No. 16 Iowa.

“I told the team at the hotel on Friday night, ‘Don’t be surprised when the goal posts go down tomorrow night,’ � he told reporters after the game.

He joked that there might be some extra work needed to get it right.

“I see that our fans can’t get it down,� he said. “Maybe they need to work out a little more and practice a little bit.�

Trivia answer: Bevo.

The original Bevo made his debut on Thanksgiving Day in 1916.

Add Bevo: This season in Austin, Bevo XIV, a 2-year-old steer, replaced Bevo XIII, who was given a separation package of pasture-grazing after 16 seasons on the sideline.

And finally: Tennis star Andy Roddick, on whether he was suffering from a cold: “No, my voice is just really deep.�