House Price Has No Ceiling

Want to live like a Hall of Fame quarterback? Joe Montana’s house is on the market.

The asking price is rumored to be around $20 million, but Joe and Jennifer Montana’s real estate agent won’t confirm a figure.

Ellen Mazzoni of Coldwell Banker would only say the house, located about 30 miles south of San Francisco in tony Atherton, Calif., was up for sale.

The Montanas bought the house 10 years ago from George Roberts of the investment banking firm Kohlberg, Kravis and Roberts.

On 2.28 acres of prime real estate, the 6,460-foot home includes underground parking and a wine cellar. The San Francisco Chronicle reported Saturday that the living room celling is painted with a copy of Michelangelo’s “Creation of Adam,” part of the mural that adorns the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

Montana, the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback who will be inducted into the Pro Football’s Hall of Fame in July, also owns a 600-acre ranch in the Napa Valley.

Give him a suit with a view

Cleveland Indians rookie C.C. Sabathia has his last name tattooed on his back.

“You don’t need a name on the back of your uniform,” catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. told him. “You just need a hole in the back of your jersey.”

Special boarding passes

As the Indians headed to Toronto a week ago for two exhibitions with the Blue Jays, two players forgot their passports. So batboy Brandon Boyd was assigned to get them.

The plane was actually heading down the runway when Boyd reached the airport. But a gate agent got the pilot to turn around. Catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. told Boyd: “You’re going to be the first batboy to go into the Guinness Book of World Records. We stopped the plane for you, but last year they wouldn’t hold it for Cal Ripken in Baltimore.”

Ignorance is bliss

In a ceremony at Overbrook High School in Philadelphia, the late Wilt Chamberlain became the first player to have his jersey retired by the Harlem Globetrotters.

“A lot of people talk about Wilt Chamberlain on the girls team,” said Patricia Whittingham, a 16-year-old junior. “He’s like our role model too.”

Uh, girls, have you read his book?

President Dude?

Texas Rangers pitcher Darren Oliver, on why he’s supporting former team owner George W. Bush for president: “I just think it would be cool to know the dude in the White House.”

The last word …

“Never trust a dog to guard your food.”

- Former pro wrestler Paul Ellering, assessing his mushing debut in the Iditarod.