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Bulletin: Chiefs to go undefeated

Expectations for the Kansas City Chiefs of the NFL are ranging from very high to very ridiculous.

“It almost feels like Christmas,” said coach Marty Schottenheimer, who has added Pro Bowl tackle Chester McGlockton and Leslie O’Neal to a defense that led the NFL in fewest points allowed.

Although Schottenheimer declined to reveal details of Thursday’s summer camp-opening address to the team, he no doubt talked about the outrageous prediction that the Chiefs will go 16-0 and be the first unbeaten NFL team since the 1972 Miami Dolphins.

The 16-0 talk was started last spring by defensive end Derrick Thomas when the Chiefs signed McGlockton and O’Neil.

Sixteen-and-oh? Only after the Mariners win the World Series.

Mascot mania

Former Detroit Tigers All-Star catcher Matt Nokes was suspended and fined for attacking an independent-league mascot who wouldn’t stop jumping on his team’s plywood dugout during a game.

The 34-year-old Nokes, a member of the St. Paul Saints of the Northern League, was suspended for the team’s game July 13 and fined $25 after the incident last weekend, the Saints said.

The Saints were playing at the Winnipeg, Manitoba, Goldeyes July 11, when Nokes chased and choked the mascot with a broomstick, the Goldeyes said.

Bullwinkle offers his condolences

Word from Seafirst Stadium in Spokane is that the Mariners Moose was injured during Thursday’s game between the Indians and the Southern Oregon Timberjacks.

It seems that during one routine with Otto, the Indians mascot, the unnamed performer inside the Moose costume suffered a rib injury.

When the incident was mentioned on the radio Indians personnel called the press box and asked that the news be kept hush-hush and on the QT. Maybe they were afraid of being included on Sportscenter.

Unknown to fans the Moose was replaced with a backup mammal.

Paratroopers land at Jacobs Field

The sky above Jacobs Field looked so ominous that the grounds crew rolled out the tarp before the first drop of rain hit the infield Tuesday night during a rain delay in Cleveland.

Heavy wind gusts lifted several members of the crew off the ground as they tried desperately to drag the tarp onto the infield in the fourth inning.

One crew member holding the tarp on the third base side was lifted off his feet and carried about 20 feet as the tarp took the shape of a hot air balloon.

Who says baseball is boring?

Too bad their players don’t behave that way

The Oakland Raiders are in another battle with politicians over their stadium deal. Oakland Mayor Elihu Harris said he hasn’t “seen anything from the Raiders other than anger and hostility.”

The last word …

“They said, ‘You know, old Eric, whom we hardly ever see in a garter belt and panties … is a pretty darned good play-by-play announcer, so let’s just stick with him.’

- C.W. Nevius of the San Francisco Chronicle, on Marv Albert’s unsuccessful bid to replace Miami Heat broadcaster Eric Reid.