A rat’s second chance:You may recall that...

A rat’s second chance:

You may recall that David Coher of Lakewood and his performing rat failed to qualify for the Stupid Pet Tricks segment of the David Letterman show earlier this year.

Champagne, Coher’s pet rodent, successfully pulled off its stunt of retrieving a piece of food from Coher’s mouth. But the duo lost out in the distinguished competition to an iguana that stood on its hind legs and munched popcorn.

Coher and his partner were invited back the other day for another tryout, inasmuch as Letterman is bringing his show to L.A. next month. Of course, Champagne had grown a bit in the interim. So, this time, the rat clambered up a 2-by-4 plank to Coher’s mouth, at which time it pulled out a colored marshmallow.

The two are still awaiting word on whether they made the grade. They had stiff competition, again. One of their rivals was a dog that throws its front paws up in the air when someone points a gun at it. We’re not sure whether the pooch was taught this trick or just picked up the habit from living in L.A.

PUNCH LINE: The other day we mentioned, without explanation, that Kid McCoy, an early-century boxing champ, was said to be the inspiration for the phrase “the real McCoy.” In case you’re wondering, here’s his version of the story as quoted in “Fallen Angels,” by Marvin Wolf and Katherine Mader:

“I’m in a saloon with a charming young lady, as usual. A drunk is making passes at her. I try to brush him off without too much fuss. ‘Beat it,’ I says. ‘I’m Kid McCoy.’ He laughs and says, ‘Yeah? Well I’m George Washington.’ I have to clip him a short one and down he goes. He wakes up 10 minutes later, rubs his jaw, and says, ‘Jeez, it was the real McCoy!’ ”

UPNs AND UFOs: The UPN network recently showed the movie, “Roswell,” about the alleged landing of a band of UFOs in Roswell, N.M., in 1947. UFO believers long have contended that the Air Force kept the incident from the public. Anyway, Mike Gianakis of Van Nuys noticed that during the broadcast, the film was identified on the screen several times as “Rosewell.” Quipped Gianakis: “The cover-up continues!”

NOW IF SHE WERE THE REAL McCOY. . . . Norm Sklarewitz noticed that a psychic’s shop on the Westside is still closed despite a sign that proclaimed, “Will reopen Oct. 15.” Sklarewitz added: “My assumption is that something unforeseen came up.”

miscelLAny A company has announced that it will display the “world’s largest flying condom” in the skies during several NFL games. The 75-foot-long banner, which will say “Roll One On” in bright colors, will appear over stadiums in Chicago, New York, Cleveland and--yes--Oakland. Just another spectacle that L.A. Raider fans will miss.