Match Made In Xfl Heaven

Anthony McClanahan has an advantage in his bid to be a linebacker with the XFL’s Los Angeles Xtreme.

The former Washington State University star hopes to be taken in the XFL’s supplemental draft on Dec. 29, but his wife has already made it.

The Xtreme introduced their 11-member cheerleading squad Monday at a news conference at the House of Blues in West Hollywood, Calif. Jaayda Lee-McClanahan, 22, is one of the 11.

From all the TV ads and the Web site (www.XFL.com), it’s clear the cheerleaders will be one of the main attractions to the fledgling new league.

So how helpful will it be to be married to a cheerleader?

XFL founder Vince McMahon has said cheerleaders will be encouraged to date players. He has since recanted and now says there are simply no rules against it.

McMahon was quoted as saying that during game telecasts, the cheerleaders might be asked if they “did the wild thing” with one of the players the night before.

For more than one reason, Anthony McClanahan hopes his wife will be able to answer in the affirmative.

Please come back

Jerry Greene of the Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel suspects this phone call has already happened: “Hello, Michael, this is David. David Stern. So did you hear about (Mario) Lemieux returning to the game? Yeah, probably going to save the NHL single-handedly.

“Yeah, too bad we don’t have an owner who could step in and do the same thing, heh-heh. Michael? Michael?

“Must be a bad connection.”

From the right

TNT analyst Charles Barkley last week asked pregame host Ernie Johnson if he, like Barkley, was a Republican.

“I don’t talk politics,” Johnson said.

Said analyst Kenny Smith: “I do. I ain’t Republican.”

Said Barkley: “We use proper English in the Republican Party.”

From the left

After Dallas’ Troy Aikman suffered his 10th concussion, Jay Leno said, “Two more and they make you governor down there in Texas.”

They’re celebrating in Texas

Randy Galloway in the Fort Worth StarTelegram: “Finally, total financially irresponsible behavior has come to Arlington. Ain’t it wonderful?

“I don’t care if the team really needed pitching more than the best player in the game… . Rejoice and order another round of tequila. The Rangers are officially The Team That Killed Baseball.”

The last word …

“I get the impression if he went 1-on-1 with Saddam Hussein, you’d root for Saddam Hussein.”

- Chris Myers of Fox Sports on Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder.