This Could Leave Some the Worse for Wear

Irritation has a way of vanishing if you can have some fun with the rules.

The new NBA dress code doesn’t specify that the permitted attire must be fashionable. Think Oscar Madison in the “Odd Couple.�

Come to think of it, the rules could create a new bond between sportswriters and athletes.

Old ugly sport coats -- which peaked in the ‘70s -- could come out of the closet and find a new home.

And folks such as Utah center Greg Ostertag, who promised that he would get “the worst-looking� sport coat, could get assistance from press-row types looking to do some fall cleaning.

Dallas Morning News columnist Kevin Blackistone suggested a much more threatening sanction, something worse than a fine: “The NBA said it won’t announce [Commissioner David] Stern’s penalty for its dress code violators until it sees an offender. But given the direction of things, you know what it’ll probably be: Dockers for a month!�

*

Trivia time: How many wins did Chicago White Sox pitcher Red Faber have in the 1917 World Series?

*

Happy together: Front- and back-page headlines in the New York Post -- “Love-In� and “Joe & Tell� -- weren’t enough to sell Post columnist Mike Vaccaro on the long-term prospects for owner George Steinbrenner and Yankee Manager Joe Torre, who announced he is returning.

“So our long national nightmare ended with smiles and warm handshakes, with Steinbrenner promising to go directly to Torre next year when he wants to clear his throat, with Torre insisting he will pick up the phone and talk to the Boss when things are bothering him,� Vaccaro said.

“And if you believe this is bound for a happy ending then you also believe Kevin Brown is going to be the Yankees’ opening-day starter next April.�

*

Phil’s world: Phil Jackson’s global tour took him to the Australian Open in January, and he wrote about his travels in the November issue of Men’s Journal.

He not only watched some tennis, but he also played blackjack with Andy Roddick.

“I won $450, and he won about $5,000. Andy’s a great athlete and a high-energy guy who can’t sit still for longer than 10 seconds,� Jackson wrote.

“But like too many NBA players, Roddick is also very willful and sees the world in overly simplistic terms. I’ve always been struck by how much he resists being coached.�

In blackjack or tennis?

*

Easy targets: Comedian Jay Leno’s monologue on Tuesday night’s “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno� took on the usual suspects: “Last year, the Red Sox won for the first time since 1918. This year, the White Sox could win for the first time since 1917. And next year the Cubs could, no, wait, they’re the Cubs. That will never happen.

“Think about that, 1917. That was so long ago. Do you realize that was the year of Cher’s first farewell tour?

*

Trivia answer: Three. Faber won Game 2, Game 5 and Game 6. He also lost Game 4.

*

And finally: Golfer Colin Montgomerie, on a recent title, his first in 18 months: “I am 42 now and supposed to be going downhill. It’s nice to go the other way.�