He May Not Be the Answer When You Need a Cop

Alberto Tomba, a marshal in the Carabinieri, Italy’s national police force, has turned in his badge, ending a controversial 12-year stint in law enforcement for the world and Olympic ski champion.

There were times, said Carabinieri commander Luigi Federici, when Tomba’s private life caused problems.

Two years ago, Tomba was fined $4,500 for putting a police light atop his car so he could zoom past a Christmas traffic jam in Cortina, the Italian ski resort.

Last December, Carabinieri officials suggested that Tomba retire after he hurled a glass trophy at a photographer who had sold nude pictures of the skier. Tomba said he was trying to throw the trophy to his sister and hit the man by accident.

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Trivia time: What was the closest batting race in major league history?

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No look needed: Oriole shortstop Cal Ripken Jr. still hasn’t watched the videotape of his dramatic lap around Camden Yards the night he broke Lou Gehrig’s streak of consecutive games played.

“I thought I wanted to look at it right away because the experience was so great,� he said. “But the longer I didn’t watch it, the more I felt the need to just preserve the memory that was in my mind. I have this special perception of it and I’d like to keep it as long as I can.�

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Mismatch: In the European junior hockey championships, the Netherlands defeated Turkey, 40-0. That’s right, forty.

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New meaning: In auto racing, R&D; stands for research and development. Drag racing mechanic Scott Walker, seen studying the inner workings of Al Hofmann’s new Pontiac funny car, gave a new version.

“I’m doing some R&D;,� he said. “That’s rob and duplicate.�

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Unusual sight: Florida Marlin fans saw new center fielder Devon White lose a fly ball in the late-afternoon sun, setting up a run for Pittsburgh in the Marlins’ home opener.

“The fans say ‘Seven Gold Gloves,’ but those things happen. I look up in the stands, and I see them miss balls too,� White said.

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Family affair: Art Modell’s wife, Pat, is right in step with her husband’s naming his NFL team the Baltimore Ravens, a name inspired by Baltimore native Edgar Allan Poe’s poem. She plans to rename her three dogs Edgar, Allan and Poe.

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You name it: The Angels have one of baseball’s most unusual nicknames, if you stop and think about it.

Jim Laris, writing in Pasadena Weekly, submits some other memorable baseball team names: Piedmont Boll Weevils, Salinas Peppers, Winston-Salem Warthogs, Savannah Sand Gnats and, from the Mexican League, the Saltillo Serape Makers.

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Anyone hungry? Maybe the San Francisco Giants should be renamed the Gourmets.

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The Giants’ fans this season--in addition to peanuts, hot dogs and Cracker Jack--will be offered such delicacies as calamari, grilled ahi, lime-scented pork, tomatillo chili and corn chili in a cumin-infused broth.

How about Rolaids?

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Trivia answer: In 1931 the National League title was won by Chick Hafey of the St. Louis Cardinals with a .3489 average, followed by Bill Terry of the New York Giants at .3486 and Sunny Jim Bottomley of the Cardinals at .3482.