Sky’s the Limit for Ford; How About Sakic?

So which would you take? Harrison Ford or the five first-round draft picks from the New York Rangers?

While the Colorado Avalanche brass agonizes over whether to match the Rangers’ $21-million offer to center Joe Sakic, a restricted free agent, the Denver Post can’t resist comparing Sakic’s value to Ford’s.

That’s because “Air Force One” was co-produced by Beacon Communications, a subsidiary of Ascent Entertainment Group--which owns the Avalanche and used a picture of Sakic hoisting the Stanley Cup on its annual report.

Ford earned $20 million to play the president and fight Russian terrorists for a couple of hours in “Air Force One.” Shouldn’t Sakic get another million to play Detroit and fight the Red Wings’ Russian bloc for the next three years?

Don’t do the math. The Avalanche is losing money and “Air Force One” is a $90-million film that probably will have grossed $100 million before the end of this weekend.

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Add Sakic: “Ascent paid Harrison Ford $20 million to save the free world from terrorism,” the Post’s Mark Kiszla wrote. “If [Ascent Chief Executive Officer Charlie Lyons] doesn’t dig deep in his wallet, the only way Lyons will be able to enjoy Sakic’s best work for Ascent is the same way he must watch Ford: on film.”

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They ducked one: The Walt Disney Co.’s resources, along with their vows to match any offer, may prevent other teams from making a similar offer to the Mighty Ducks’ Paul Kariya, another restricted free agent.

But does it make anyone nervous that a recent Ducks’ advertisement featured only Teemu Selanne? And don’t the Ducks know Kariya’s value is only going up?

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Trivia time: What college football team set an NCAA record by winning at least 10 games each of the last 10 seasons but is coming off a 32-point loss?

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Nothing on Down Under: Peter Schiltz, player-coach of the Bungaree team in the Australian Rules football league, said he made the team strip in 35-degree weather during practice because of a string of losses.

“I was looking for a bit of inspiration,” Schiltz said. “It was a spur-of-the-moment decision.”

The players did a lap around the field and a 10-minute ball drill.

“Something needed to be done to lift our spirits and liven up training,” Schiltz said.

They should keep their shorts on. Bungaree lost its next game.

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Trivia answer: Florida State, USC’s opponent in its season-opener Sept. 6 at the Coliseum. The Seminoles lost to Florida, 52-20, in the Sugar Bowl.

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And finally: From Mother Jones magazine, reprinted here in honor of the approaching gambling, er, football, season, this quote from former Las Vegas entrepreneur Lefty Rosenthal: “Ninety-nine percent of the public, including myself, have two chances: One is slim, and the other is none--and slim is out of town.”