-- Despite a 50-game suspension, LA's Manny Ramirez is still raking in All-Star votes. Probably plenty of fans really do think he's just on maternity leave. Wonder if he craves pickles and ice cream? Make suspensions matter--make 'em for the end of the season ... Is it "Big Papi" or "Big Popup" Ortiz and is he really 33 or 37? ... Mets Citi Field's first streaker slid head first into second base. Ouch! ... Lowly Nationals (already 20 games behind) are so deep in the cellar, they are safe from a biological attack ... Solution to all those empty seats at Marlins games: put a blue tarp around the upper deck, paint giant fish on it and let fans imagine they're in an aquarium.
-- Fans (11,110) of the minor league Albuquerque (N.M.) Isotopes broke a hot dog eating record on a recent Monday, downing 37,000 dogs. Tuesday's game featured the equally popular Tums and Pepto Bismol Night.
-- According to Kelly Riedy, the windpipe of an adult whooping crane is five feet long.
-- Brett Favre is like watching a train wreck--milking it to the very end ... Rumor has it Patriots coach Bill Belichick is about to get married. He has already ordered a tuxedo with a hood on it! ... His quarterback, Tom Brady, said all those months rehabbing and away from football gave him a fresh perspective on life. Guess he'd rather hang out with a Victoria's Secret model than a sweaty nose tackle.
-- Cav's LeBron James recently was wheeled into the operating room to have a growth removed from his jaw--reportedly the surgeon poured a pile of disinfectant powder into his hands and flung it into the air (a la "the king"). James was fined $25,000 by the NBA for ignoring postgame playoff handshakes and media session. 25K, bet his housekeeper finds that under his sofa cushions regularly.
-- In the LPGA Championships, a golfer's drive hit and killed a robin. Wonder if it went on the scorecard as a birdie?
-- How about tennis star Roger Federer getting accosted by a fan in mid-match. Who was in charge of security at the French Open? Inspector Clouseau?
-- And finally, Katherine Granados has a neighbor whose dog is not too smart--he's constantly chasing people named "Katz".
(Some of the information in this column was obtained from other news organizations)
