Party On, Dude

Bucking the national trend in which cities feel obligated to riot after their teams win national championships, citizens of Lincoln, Neb., celebrated peacefully after Nebraska’s Orange Bowl victory Sunday night.

No arrests were made, although there were two injuries - one a bloody palm. Seems a 20-year-old man was giving high-fives to people driving by when a passenger in one car held up a knife and said “Highfive this,” stabbing the man’s hand.

Celebrations were highlighted when 1,500 fans stormed Memorial Stadium to tear down the goalposts. One problem: officials had removed them prior to the game. The fans peaceably left the stadium.

Ex-teams, ex-wives and excuses

Charles Barkley was once again quick with quips during a recent practice.

When rookie guard Trevor Ruffin beat Barkley in wind sprints, Barkley said, “The older I get, the faster I used to be.”

And when coach Paul Westphal, once a shooting guard, missed a shot, Barkley observed, “I’m a lot closer to my past than coach is to his.”

Sir Charles leads the Suns against his former team, Philadelphia, tonight. “We better beat the Sixers by 100 points,” Barkley said. “Ex-teams are like ex-wives. Deep, deep down, you know you can’t stand them.”

Don’t mess with Raider Red

Texas Tech took a beating in Monday’s Cotton Bowl, losing 55-14 to USC. So did Steve Hutto aka Raider Red, the Red Raiders’ mascot. Police escorted Raider Red off the field late in the second quarter after an altercation with Southern Cal band members.

“Some words were exchanged,” a Dallas officer said. “Punches were thrown… . We escorted him out for his own protection. He was not ejected.”

Officers confirmed that USC band members initiated the confrontation by elbowing and kicking Raider Red. One tried to pull Hutto away. Then, another USC band member ripped the mustache off Hutto’s costume and punched him in the face.

Observed front-row Tech fan Kerri Griese: “We were messing with the band. They were messing with us. Then, this guy swung at Raider Red, and Raider Red went ballistic.”

An ex-Marine, Hutto fought in the Gulf War.

Cheap diamond

Craig Treese and Suzanne Bonaguidi met in a bar and were married on the Seattle Mariners’ spring training baseball diamond in Peoria, Ill., with the groom entering from the bullpen and the couple leaving under bats raised by the ushers.

Clergyman Dan Telkamp presided, admonishing the happy couple: “It should never be three strikes or you’re out. Regardless if you walk or hit a home run, you will score as long as you play together.”

The last word …

“I’m just glad to have one.”

- Cleveland backup center Greg Dreiling, on having to wear the Cavs’ much-criticized uniforms