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Pass the guacamole, please

Super Bowl watchers will no doubt know the nickname for Green Bay Packers fans (Cheeseheads) or that the Broncos Barrelman is Tim McKernan the fan has worn only a barrel with suspenders to nearly every Denver game during the past 20 years.

But did you know the California Avocado Commission reports Americans eat 8 million pounds of guacamole on Super Bowl Sunday, more than any other day of the year?

Housework is a real pain

Venus Williams shows no fear on the tennis court, even against the world’s best players, but she says she lives in terror of housework.

“I found out that when I do things like fold clothes and wash dishes, my back starts hurting,” she said. “I tried (working) around the house, but I just can’t do it because, I’m not kidding, I have back problems when I start doing that stuff.”

Hey, who doesn’t?

An obvious response

A recent poll in the Toronto Sun asked readers where the Raptors most needed help, at guard, forward or center. Twenty-two responses said, “All of the above.”

Say 10 Hail Marys and do 20 squats

Buffalo Bills linebacker Chris Spielman, a workaholic in practice, was asked how it felt to go more than two months without working out while he recuperated from a neck injury:

“It was like the pope not being allowed to say Mass.”

See you in gasoline alley

The NHL Players’ Association will be an associate sponsor for McCormack Motorsports’ entry in the 1998 Indy Racing League season.

The players union’s logo will be one of several on the McCormack car driven by Brazilian Raul Boesel.

McCormack Motorsports has had Indy Cars since 1991 and finished ninth in the 1997 Indianapolis 500.

Last year, the National Hockey League co-sponsored an entry in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with L&R Motorsports.

Wouldn’t they prefer to sponsor boxing matches?

Shame on you

Outspoken Jeff Tarango is in trouble with tennis officials again over his behavior during his first-round match at the Australian Open.

Tarango was fined $3,000 for unsportsmanlike behavior during the compelling four-set loss against Patrick Rafter.

The American questioned several calls, and was given a warning for unsportsmanlike behavior by the umpire. Tarango then called tournament referee Peter Bellenger onto the court in a futile attempt to have the warning revoked.

Tarango’s most notable spat with officials was at Wimbledon in 1995, when he walked off during a thirdround match and was subsequently fined and banned from playing there for one year.

With Tarango around to throw tantrums, who says tennis needs another John McEnroe?

Count me in

Fred Couples, who won the Bob Hope Classic last week despite a painful back that he says makes him “walk like a 60-year-old,” is all for allowing Casey Martin, who has an incurable circulatory problem in his right leg, to use a cart while playing tournament golf.

“If he gets (to ride in a cart), I’m next in line,” Couples said.

The defense rests

Former Los Angeles Rams safety Eddie Meador on the difference between offensive and defensive players: “I think almost every defensive back in the NFL could play offense, but not many offensive backs could play defense.”

The last word …

“You know the Coors ads where you’re instructed to say, ‘Hey, beer man?’ (Green Bay Packers defensive lineman) Gilbert Brown could eat the beer man and still have room for the nachos man.”

Tony Kornheiser, in the Washington Post

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo