It’s the Sports Year of Listing Dangerously

The 10 worst examples of idiocy in the sports world:

1. A “national pastime� rigged so that only a handful of the richest teams have a fair chance to be champion.

2. NHL standings that include wins, losses and two other categories.

3. Anything and everything associated with boxing.

4. A college champion decided without a playoff. Football, only. Division I-A, only.

5. Having two teams from the same city play in the same division in the same arena. (David, please make Donald go south).

6. The majority of NCAA restrictions against student-athletes working, driving nice cars, etc.

7. The designated-hitter rule.

8. The new NBA defensive three-second rule.

9. College baseball and other playoffs and championships on the home fields of the teams that can draw the most fans, and not the teams that deserve them.

10. Public funding of sports facilities where players and owners make billions.

Rick Wallace

Malibu

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With apologies to David Letterman, Mark Heisler, Chris Dufresne, etc., here are my top 10 candidates for the Notre Dame coaching job:

1. Terry Donahue--Impeccable background. Irish. Successful. Who could ask for anything more?

2. Mike Krzyzewski--Who says you can’t be successful in two sports?

3. Bowden--Any of them, but particularly the one who is a lousy TV analyst.

4. Joe Paterno--Never too old for a career change.

5. Bob Toledo--Should recruit well in Ohio. Also gives UCLA a chance to go after Neuheisel.

6. Paul Hackett--He certainly would get the Irish up for the SC game.

7. Mike Price--Is right? Get him on a Pullman to South Bend.

8. Regis Philbin--A Notre Dame loyalist. TV ratings have tanked. Could be the final answer.

9. Gerry Faust--Would sell his soul to the devil to get back his old job.

10. Knute Rockne--If you have to dig someone up ...

Joe Cohen

Los Angeles