Florida White House hopeful dealing in wheeling

Sen. Bob Graham, D-Fla., trying to get out front in the 2004 presidential race, has signed on as a sponsor for Jon Wood's No. 50 ride in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck series. And he already boasts a victory in the O'Reilly Auto Parts 250 at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., on July 5.

As team owner Jack Roush told the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times: "When a distinguished United States senator calls with interest in our program, we're glad to accept the support and participation in the democratic process in a unique way."

The sponsorship does have its drawbacks, though. Seems that every time Roush orders Wood to drive conservatively, the truck tends to pull to the left.

Tee for three?

Forget Tiger mania. Recent karma says Andrew Coltart, a European Tour journeyman, ought to win this year's British Open.

It says so right there in the Los Angeles Times, which cites the facts that:

The Scotsman -- like Masters champ Mike Weir and U.S. Open winner Jim Furyk -- entered 2003 without a major title on his resume.

All three were born on May 12, 1970.

Getting the bum's rush

About 40 animal-rights protesters stripped naked last week to protest the annual running of the bulls through Pamplona, Spain, but police rebuffed them before they could get on a winning streak.

Spurred by the bulls outlasting the bares, stocks on Wall Street closed up for the second week in a row.

First smoke, then fire

Less than a week after the latest pot bust of Damon Stoudamire, the still-employed, $12 million-per-year backup point guard, Portland's NBA team announced the firing of 88 front-office and Rose Garden workers in a $4 million cost-cutting venture.

For its next move, the team is reportedly considering a name change to Gall Blazers.

Chatter up

Wayne White, veteran rodeo announcer and former bull rider, telling the Spokane Spokesman-Review why he's hooked on cowpunching: "It's the original extreme sport. These guys are tough enough to trim their nose hairs with a weed-whacker."

Shortstop Orlando Cabrera on marking time during the Expos' recent 25-day trip: "Before we left Montreal, I went out and bought 25 pairs of underwear. And I knew when I got down to the last pair, it would be time to go home."

Royals first baseman Mike Sweeney to the Kansas City Star, acknowledging his team's small-market status when asked about his injured neck: "It's great. I feel like a hundred bucks."

Bill Scheft of Sports Illustrated, noting that Viktor Tikhonov, the legendary Soviet Red Army coach, will be 76 when he coaches the Russian hockey team in the 2006 Winter Olympics: "Do you believe in Miracle Ears -- yes!"

Take me to the bra game

U.S. soccer star Brandi Chastain created the 1999 World Cup's signature moment when she stripped off her jersey and celebrated in her black sports bra after scoring the title-winning penalty kick at the Rose Bowl.

And if the situation presents itself in this year's tournament, Chastain told NBC's "Today" show, "That shirt's coming off."

Soccer purists can only cringe and wonder: Since when did the World Cup come to represent showing the world your cups?