3 Titles in 4 Years Apparently Give You Perspective

Shaun Powell of Newsday on the New York Yankees: “They’ve left the gripping suspense to the Mets the last two seasons. Never were the Yankees on the verge of missing the playoffs, nor did they tease us with postseason elimination, nor did they sweat the World Series.

“Oh, a few people fell into a forced panic when Roger Clemens couldn’t find the strike zone and Chuck Knoblauch couldn’t locate first base.

“But in hindsight, that was nit-picky stuff, like finding a mole under the armpit of a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model.”

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Trivia time: Which NBA team holds the single-game record for turnovers?

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Retaliation: Scott Ostler in the San Francisco Chronicle: “I’m still not able to confirm the rumor that figure skater Tonya Harding tossed that hubcap at her boyfriend because he told her, ‘You skate like Marty McSorley.’ ”

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Slam dunk: Portland Coach Mike Dunleavy, after Utah’s Karl Malone sent Trail Blazer forward Bonzi Wells to the floor in a recent game:

“It looked like Karl was trying out for the WWF again.”

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And this from Bonzi: “We like to make people taste victory and then take it out of their mouths.”

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No more: Blackie Sherrod in the Dallas Morning News: “The late KC lineback Derrick Thomas’ vanity license plate: ISAKQBS.”

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Bound to happen: From comedy writer Earl Hochman: “With cell phones rapidly growing in popularity, check out this possible sports scenario:

“Middle of a Little League baseball game and an excited player is on the phone shouting, ‘Guess what, Mom, I just stole second.’ ”

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Come again? At New York Yankee camp in Tampa, Fla., a writer who had not seen legendary shortstop Phil Rizzuto for some time asked Yogi Berra where Rizzuto was.

Replied Berra: “Every time I see him, he’s not there.”

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Got ya covered: An NBA plan to experiment with TV cameras in the locker rooms of selected teams at halftime is not going over well with Toronto Raptor forward Antonio Davis.

“What if I decide to scratch my butt?” he said. “It’s like that eye is always watching you. It’s bad enough the league controls our conduct and emotion on the court. Now we can’t be ourselves in the locker room. I’d be shocked if this goes over well.”

The idea is part of the league’s plan to hopefully rekindle interest in the game and improve sagging television ratings.

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Looking back: On this day in 1993, Cleveland and Boston set an NBA record for fewest turnovers in a game by both teams with 12, six each.

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Trivia answer: The Lakers, with 43 against Seattle on Feb. 15, 1974.

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And finally: Mark Kriegel in the New York Daily News: “The NFL salary cap goes up to $62 million next season. But the way I’m hearing it, management has drawn a line in the sand: Bail will stay at $3 million per team.”