How Soon They Forget?

Defensive end Bruce Smith, on how Buffalo’s treatment of running back Thurman Thomas affected his decision not to restructure his contract.

“If they would have treated him with a little more respect than they did, it might have affected my decision differently. This man is the greatest running back who has ever played for the Buffalo Bills.”

O.J. who?

Her just reward

A South Texas hotel housekeeper who had been robbed last year did something nice for Toronto Raptors coach Butch Carter - and came away $1,000 richer for her kindness.

After the Raptors’ 112-95 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Feb. 3, Carter left behind a money clip loaded with $5,000 cash in his hotel room.

When a 61-year-old housekeeper, Tomasa Luna, found the clip and turned it over to her supervisor, Carter decided to give the woman a $1,000 reward.

“I thought she deserved it,” said Carter, who called the hotel about the missing money a few days after checking out.

Rebecca Andrade, who supervises the hotel’s nearly two dozen housekeepers, said Luna had been robbed of almost everything she owned last year.

“I thought it was really amazing. She came down with all that money in her pockets and … and she handed it to me,” Andrade said.

Another Plaza San Antonio official said that in the past 20 years, the hotel’s guests have left behind more expensive items - and had them returned - but have never offered up such a large reward.

Ringing endorsement

How crazy have things gotten in Cincinnati since the Reds obtained outfielder Ken Griffey Jr.?

Manager Jack McKeon, who lives in North Carolina, says the phone lines into the team’s headquarters have been so jammed, he can’t reach his own office.

“I haven’t been able to call in there in two days,” he said.

The last word …

“For all the guys trying to catch Tiger, it looks like their only hope now is reincarnation.”

- Michael Ventre of MSNBC