-- Most NFL teams call it training camp. In Cincy, it could be called the work-release program. Even their fans now have a number to call during games to report poor spectator behavior: 381-JERK ... Last fall a Cleveland fan ran onto the field and was sentenced to a five-year ban for attending inept Browns games. And the punishment is? ... Wonder if 81-year-old Bills GM Marv Levy knew the real Buffalo Bill? ... Las Vegas sports books lost money on NFL games last season. Guess they'll have to raise the price of their grilled cheese sandwiches ... How many wealthy Pro-Bowlers drive a Kia? Steelers DB Troy Polamalu does ... Colts, Panthers, Patriots and Steelers are the Super Bowl favorites but let's not forget about Denver and Seattle.
-- Shouldn't Heisman voting be done after the bowl games? ... In 1888, while Yale football coach Walter Camp tended to his clock business, his wife Alice ran the team's practices. The result -- the Bulldogs were 13-0 that season and outscored their opponents 698-0.
-- According to Bob Richards, Thomas Edison was afraid of the dark.
-- Last month three Red Sox fans gave $30,000 to charity to play Wiffle Ball with David "Big Papi" Ortiz ... A while back, Phillies' Aaron Rowand broke his nose, had two black eyes and sported 15 stitches in his left cheek after colliding with the centerfield wall. Could say, "He fought the wall and the wall won" ... The U.S. Postal Service announced a 39-cent stamp commemorating Hall of Famers Mel Ott, Mickey Mantle and Roy Campanella. They'll also have a stamp for Barry "the walking chemistry set" Bonds, too--just for bulk mail! ...Dodgers still offer a $6 ticket online from Ticketmaster. However, there is a $3 convenience charge, $3.55 processing charge, plus $2.50 ticket "fast delivery" charge. How's that for a customer-friendly experience?
-- Legendary hoopster Charles Barkley may some day run for governor of Alabama. Campaign slogan: "I can't be any worse than Arnold."
-- If an American 8-year-old soccer player flops (falls down) and cries every five minutes, he will soon be visiting a shrink. In any other country, he's earmarked a future superstar!
-- And finally, this from Bruce Booher: Too bad the only people who know how to run the country are busy driving cabs and cutting hair.
(Some of the information in this column was obtained from other news organizations)