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Give ‘em an inch and they’ll take a Knightric

How big is basketball in Connecticut? Big enough that UConn center Travis Knight’s shoes have displaced the foot as the measurement of choice at John Paterson Elementary School in Newington.

Teacher Kathee Phelps saw a drawing of Knight’s size-14 sneaker in The Hartford Courant and decided it could be a tool for measurement.

One Knightric equals 40 Travics. Three Knightrics make one Knighter. And 4,874 Knightrics equal a single Travometer.

By the way, the system’s 7-foot namesake is 6.46 Knightrics tall.

“That’s kind of neat,” he said.

Kind of Knight, he means.

Tardiness is next to dogliness

Showing up late for spring training is something of a game among major leaugers. Dante Bichette missed his flight and didn’t call Rockies manager Don Baylor, who was miffed. Jose Canseco showed up late for Boston’s first workout, but noted that by his standards, he was early. Orioles reliever Randy Myers was late because he was helping coach the women’s basketball team at Clark College in Vancouver, Wash.

But this year’s winner was Chili Davis, the only first-day no-show in the Angels camp in Tempe. Davis lives less than 30 minutes away, in Scottsdale.

“I think he has missed the first day of camp for the last five years,” Angels manager Marcel Lachemann said.

Added general manager Bill Bavasi, “He’s our Pedro Guerrero. I think he had visa problems coming in from Scottsdale.”

Do they call him ‘The Chiller’ now?

The Fridge is making a comeback in England. William “The Refrigerator” Perry has signed to play for the London Monarchs of the World League.

Monarchs coach Bobby Hammond plans to use the former Chicago Bear both on offense and defense. “I’m intrigued by all the possibilities,” he said.

Like when Fridge discovers shepherd’s pie.

Just shred it

U.S. equestrian team officials are moving two Olympic Trials from this summer’s Olympic site near Atlanta to Florida. Seems there’s a problem with footing.

But horses at a recent equestrian event in Indio, Calif., were landing quite softly after their jumps. Seems they’re jumping on the shredded remains of some 80,000 sneakers.

Nike sneakers.

In recent years, a move has been underfoot to make the landing areas for show-jumping events a little more forgiving. Officials have been using rubber and leather products, including old tires. Now it has come down to Nike rejects.

So if you see the Swoosh on a saddle this summer, you’ll know why.

Revoking his licentiousness

Three-time world champion Jeff Fenech blames a promiscuous lifestyle for the losses that derailed his boxing career.

“I was sick because Jeff Fenech made himself sick,” said Fenech, whose slide started with a KO by WBC super featherweight champ Azumah Nelson in 1992.

“I was sleeping with quite a few different ladies. I’m not proud of that. I’ve learned from that and I’m a better person for it.”

That’s odd. It worked for Wilt Chamberlain.

The last word …

“I don’t care about being a millionaire. But if they’re going to make me one, they have to do it the right way.”

- Braves catcher Javy Lopez, explaining why a $7.1 million contract offer was too low

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo