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All those women look alike

Sport Business magazine recently published an article about the WNBA’s successful marketing campaigns.

It ran an accompanying photo of a women’s game, with the caption: “WNBA … marketing magnet.”

One problem. The photo was of an ABL game, the WNBA’s rival.

Details, details.

Hey, Jed, watch out for those city slickers

Kansas City rookie Jed Hansen thought he was having a game to celebrate when he singled against Cleveland last Friday night, then stole second and third bases.

But the Cleveland Indians had a surprise in mind, and Hansen wound up walking off the field a victim of the hidden-ball trick.

After Hansen stole third in the first inning of the second game of a Indians-Royals doubleheader, third baseman Matt Williams strolled toward pitcher Brian Anderson as if to give him the ball.

“But he put his glove inside of mine and slammed the ball in his glove,” said Anderson, the winner in the Indians’ 6-2 victory. “I almost asked him what he was doing. Then I saw what he was doing. So I just went to the mound and kicked around.”

Williams calmly strolled back to the bag.

“He said, ‘Why don’t you step off the bag so I can clean it off,”’ Hansen said. “So I did. I learned something tonight, I guess. It took me totally by surprise.”

When Hansen stepped off the bag and began talking to third-base coach Rich Dauer, Williams tagged him for the third out of the inning.

“I was not paying attention,” said Hansen. “It won’t happen again.”

And a tip of the cap to coach Dauer for his help.

Welcome to New York

Hall of Fame pitcher Whitey Ford, when asked if he was ever nervous pitching for the Yankees: “Never when I pitched … always when I had to ride the subway.”

Nice to know some traditions never change.

Guess they’ll have to redefine ‘best’

Former Pittsburgh manager Chuck Tanner evaluating current Pirates skipper Gene Lamont:

“The three best managers in Pirates’ history are Danny Murtaugh, Chuck Tanner and Jim Leyland,” Tanner said. “None of us could have done the job Gene has done with this club this season.”

Almost as tough as a campaign

Most people go to the Big Island of Hawaii to relax on the beach. Gov. Gary Johnson of New Mexico has other, much more strenuous plans, such as:

Swimming 2.4 miles, cycling 112 and finishing with a 26.2-mile run. All in one day!

The 44-year-old Republican is among the nearly 1,500 competitors entered in the Ironman Triathlon on Oct. 18.

“Athletically, it may be about the most significant sporting event any governor has done while in office,” an Ironman spokesman said.

Hmm, have to think about that.

The last word …

“You put some of those heads on the end of a club, and they look like a Volkswagen on a stick,” he said.

- John Krzynowek, vice president of marketing for the Tommy Armour golf company, suggesting that club heads may be reaching their size limit.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo