To Get the Whole Story, Read Between the Lines

The week in review (and what a week it was):

News item: Felix Trinidad defeats Fernando Vargas in a thrilling 12th-round technical knockout in Las Vegas.

Second thought: Happy to report that, after watching the HBO replay Saturday night, Trinidad won again (you never know in boxing). Tried to reach Oscar De La Hoya for comment, but was told he was busy recording a Christmas album with the (Don) King Family.

News item: Florida State edges Miami by 0.32 of a point for the coveted No. 2 spot in the bowl championship series standings.

Second thought: Under Florida’s “sunshine law,” the Miami Herald vows to recount all decimal points. Pundits say, “Wouldn’t it be something if, after the Jan. 3 Orange Bowl, it turns out Oklahoma should have played Miami, not Florida State?”

News item: Nevada Las Vegas football defeats Hawaii, 34-32, to finish 7-5 and advance to the Las Vegas Bowl.

Second thought: Mike Garrett said his preferred choice in the USC coaching search is a current Division I-A coach with a winning record. With his victory over Hawaii, John Robinson improved to 111-48-4.

News item: Lou Holtz heads a miraculous turnaround at South Carolina and leads the 7-4 Gamecocks to a berth in the Outback Bowl.

Second thought: Holtz inherited a team that finished 1-10 in 1998 and has led it to a two-year record of 7-15. Robinson inherited a UNLV team that finished 0-11 in 1998 and has led it to a two-year record of 10-13.

News item: Oregon football Coach Mike Bellotti turns down USC, San Diego Charger Coach Mike Riley starts to waffle and Garrett turns his attention to 63-year-old Colorado State Coach Sonny Lubick.

Second thought: Word is Garrett wants to see Riley lose a couple of more games before making him a firm offer.

News item: Washington Redskin owner Daniel Snyder fires coach Norv Turner.

Second thought: In an E-channel biopic, it is revealed that yes, as a child, little Daniel was known to scream “I want my Maypo!”

News item: A Los Angeles Times reporter is shunned by Isaiah Rider after an interview was set up in advance.

Second thought: Another reporter from The Times tries to set up phone interview this week with Steve Carlton. He doesn’t call back.

News item: Los Angeles makes a bid to host the 2012 Olympics.

Second thought: USC promises it will have hired a football coach by then.

News item: In a rematch of last year’s national title game, Michigan State beats Florida, 99-83. Michigan State freshman reserve Zach Randolph finishes with 27 points and seven rebounds while freshman reserve Marcus Taylor has 15 points and seven assists.

Second thought: Write this down: Someday, Randolph and Taylor may be good enough to crack the starting lineup.

News item: Former Pittsburgh Penguin star Mario Lemieux, who retired in 1997, rescued the franchise from bankruptcy and is now the team’s owner, announces he will come out of retirement and play again at age 35.

Second thought: Inspired by Lemieux’s player-owner role, Ram owner Georgia Frontiere announces she will hold on extra points next week.

News item: Laker center Shaquille O’Neal goes 0 for 11 from the free-throw line in 103-95 loss to Seattle.

Second thought: Just for kicks, Bill Sharman grabs a ball and sinks 98 out of 100.

News item: Playboy asks its readers to choose the “Hottest Sports Babe” among female sportscasters.

Second thought: Not to be outdone, Playgirl conducts its own survey and, through Sunday polling, Verne Lundquist held a slight lead over John Madden.

News item: UCLA Coach Steve Lavin pulls freshman forward T.J. Cummings from the starting lineup against Hawaii for reporting late to a 12:30 shootaround.

Second thought: These brunches with Isaiah Rider have got to stop!

News item: UCLA basketball improves to 3-3 after defeating Hawaii, and Jason Kapono says, “At least now we have something to build on.”

Second thought: UCLA is supposed to pound on Hawaii, not build off it.

News item: The Arizona basketball team, purported to be one of the best squads ever assembled, loses at Connecticut on Saturday when an official makes a bogus goaltending call against center Loren Woods in the final seconds.

Second thought: Pacific 10 Commissioner Tom Hansen threatens to pull the Pac-10 out of the NCAA tournament in protest, until he realizes the call was made by a Pac-10 ref, Rich Ballesteros.

News item: UCLA receiver Freddie Mitchell says the Biletnikoff Award people dropped the ball when they gave the trophy to Pittsburgh’s Antonio Bryant instead of him.

Second thought: Hansen is on the case.

News item: Free-agent pitcher Mike Hampton signs a record $121-million, eight-year contract with the Colorado Rockies and says, “What it boils down to is a family decision.”

Second thought: Hampton’s career earned-run average at Coors Field is 6.88. What it boiled down to was a money decision.

News item: Florida State quarterback Chris Weinke, 28, becomes the oldest player to win the Heisman Trophy.

Second thought: Jay Berwanger, the first Heisman winner in 1935, hails the decision and immediately asks Weinke to join his Tuesday canasta game.