They Hope Cable Woos Connecticut Yankees

The Yankee-Red Sox rivalry isn’t only about the American League East.

It’s also at the heart of the Great Connecticut Cable War.

Both teams want to woo the state’s 1.1 million cable-television subscribers. But while Yankee games are available on all but two Connecticut cable systems -- including those in the heart of Red Sox territory -- Red Sox games are hard to find on cable south of Hartford, the Boston Globe reported.

Last month, the Red Sox staged a rally in downtown Hartford to try to create public pressure for cable operators to carry Red Sox games.

“We want to welcome all those Connecticut Yankees who don’t want to be in King George’s court,” Red Sox owner Tom Werner told fans.

U.S. Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, (D-Conn.), a Red Sox fan, also attended the rally.

Lonn Trost, the Yankees’ chief operating officer, wasn’t concerned.

“God is a Yankee fan, so we don’t need the senator,” Trost told the Globe.

No word on how many DirecTV salesmen attended the rally.

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Trivia time: What school produced the first Heisman Trophy winner and has never had another? (Nor is it likely to.)

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More rivalry news: Missouri fans are getting a chance to declare their loyalty -- Cardinals or Royals -- in a mock election at the Missouri State Fair.

Missouri Secretary of State Matt Blunt got into the spirit, waiving the requirement that voters be at least 18 years old.

But this election might be fixed: The fair is in Sedalia, which is twice as far from St. Louis as it is from Kansas City.

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Name change: The Denver Nuggets announced this week that Nene Hilario, a center-forward from Brazil, has legally changed his name to a single word: “Nene.”

Let’s see, there’s Ronaldo, Rivaldo, and of course, Pele ....

Maybe announcers should shout, “GOOOOOL!” when Nene scores.

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Staying put: Georgia football Coach Mark Richt’s new eight-year contract includes a buyout clause that would make it very expensive for another school to hire him, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

Amount Georgia would get if Richt left after this season: $8.4 million.

The school would have to pay Richt the same amount if it fires him without cause.

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Another Georgia fan: Hockey player Slava Kozlov says he re-signed with the Atlanta Thrashers because of his dogs.

“My two mini-dachshunds don’t like snow,” Kozlov told the Journal-Constitution.

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Trivia answer: The University of Chicago. The school now plays Div. III football, but was a member of the Big Ten when Jay Berwanger, a halfback, won the first Heisman in 1935.

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And finally: Reliever Jeff Nelson ripped Seattle Mariner management for not making moves to improve the team before the nonwaiver trade deadline last week.

This week, he became the big deal when he was traded to his former team, the Yankees -- where he also had a reputation for speaking his mind.

“Quit talking, Nellie,” Derek Jeter said. “Before you get traded again.”

-- Robyn Norwood