The skill-gaming Web site FortuneFun.com has selected an athlete as its new official spokesperson.
Is it Michael Jordan? Pete Rose? Chris Moneymaker? Nope. The pitchman is Mike Tyson.
"Our members look forward to playing against Mike Tyson online,’’ John Wallis, president of FortuneFun.com, said. "It’s safer than going against him in the ring.’’
Or a New York street corner at 4 a.m., or a strip bar, or a press conference, or a . . .
BRONX CHEER BY PINIELLA
When the Yankees started out 4-8, owner George Steinbrenner blasted his manager. When the Devil Rays started out 4-8, Tampa Bay manager Lou Piniella went after Rays owner Vince Naimoli and his resistance toward fielding a competitive team.
Tampa’s $28 million payroll is a little more than what Alex Rodriguez makes. And after A-Rod padded his stats with two homers and six RBIs in Monday’s 19-8 win over Tampa, I was waiting for Naimoli to release a statement, blasting his team for being "true Devil Rays.’’
QUICK HITTERS
• What should you expect to see when the Cardinals unveil their new uniforms in Scottsdale today? According to a few folks who got a sneak peek when an East Valley retailer displayed the knockoffs a week too early, don’t expect any radical new colors.
We’re hearing some dynamic stripes have been added to the sides and shoulders — a la the Atlanta Falcons’ new duds — and the "new’’ logo has also been added. Otherwise, it’s red numbers on a white jersey, and white numbers on the red one.
• ASU president Michael Crow, who is always comparing and measuring his athletic program to Stanford, has to be happy with this: The Sun Devils went a perfect 6-0 against the Cardinal in football (1-0), basketball (2-0) and baseball (3-0) for the first time in 23 years (1981-82).
• Memo to Crow: If Mike Haynes will take your AD job, don’t let him get away. He’s a great link to the past with a firm grasp of the present and future.
• If Darren Oliver couldn’t win a spot in Colorado’s pitiful bullpen, how is he going to help the Diamondbacks? Then again, the Rockies sent up a left-handed pinch hitter to face left-handed "specialist’’ Randy Choate on Tuesday — and he doubled during a five-run eighth inning.
• Javier Vazquez might want to consider a number change before tonight’s start in San Francisco. The list of Diamondbacks who have worn No. 23 (Bernard Gilkey, Matt Mieske, Lyle Overbay, Steve Sparks) isn’t exactly a roll call of excellence.
I believe that No. 51 is currently available.
• What is the Dodgers’ magic number?
