Big Country Quickly Plugs Up Problem

Oklahoma State center Bryant (Big Country) Reeves, whose team was eliminated in the NCAA tournament by Tulsa last Sunday, hails from Gans, Okla. (pop. 218).

A few years ago, he took his first plane flight, prompting this story from a teammate:

“He heard gum would unclog your ears. So he asked me for a stick. Twenty minutes later, I’m asleep, and Country wakes me up and asks for a stick of gum. I said, ‘Country, I already gave you some gum.’ And Country said, ‘Yeah, but now I need some to plug up the other ear.’ ”

Trivia time: Who holds the NCAA career tournament record for most points?

Looking back: Magic Johnson is the fourth former great Laker player to return to the team as head coach. The others: George Mikan, Jim Pollard and Jerry West.

Mikan had a 9-30 record for the Minneapolis Lakers in 1957-58 before he was replaced at midseason. Pollard had a 14-25 record in 1959-60 after replacing John Castellani.

West had a 145-101 record from 1976-77 through 1978-79 but won only eight of 22 playoff games.

Fire hazard: Dennis (the Terminator) Alexio, the world heavyweight kick-boxing champion, has been warned by the Professional Karate Commission that he could be stripped of his title if he continues to skirt the issue.

Alexio, who will perform Saturday in Montreal in Karatemania VIII on pay-per-view, wears a grass hula skirt, which is not regarded as proper attire.

Another strike: From Jay Leno: “More bad news for Michael Jordan: Today, Nike cut him from the company softball team.”

A Bull market: The United Center in Chicago will be the new home for the Bulls and Blackhawks next season. The suites range between $55,000 and $175,000.

“I think it stinks,” said Mike Ropa, 29, a Chicago computer operator, whose season tickets are increasing from $25 to $30 a game. “They’re catering to the wealthy businessman.”

Nothing to it: How do you win an office pool for the NCAA tournament? Use this formula by a Boston woman who picked Wisconsin Green Bay over California by a unique method:

She counted the letters in the first names of each starting lineup and chose the school that produced the most letters.

Trivia answer: Christian Laettner of Duke, 407 points, 1989-1992.

Quotebook: Charles Barkley on baseball: “The game needs someone like Michael (Jordan) to liven it up. All those players are so mediocre. Hit .230 and you make $3 million.”