Duly Noted

Saturday, Dec. 24, 2005 | 8:08 a.m.

It's almost that time again. Well, not really. But it's never too early to gather 'round the Hot Stove (or given our balmy weather, a space heater) and talk a little baseball.

According to Baseball America magazine, the top four prospects in the Dodgers' minor-league system are right-handed pitcher Chad Billingsley, third baseman Andy LaRoche, shortstop Joel Guzman and catcher Russell Martin. All four are projected to spend 2006 in Las Vegas.

So maybe the 51s will even break 60 wins this year.

Call 386-7200 for tickets.

Three things a Catholic quarterback (Jim McMahon) once said about his Mormon alma mater (BYU) in his autobiography ("McMahon!" with Bob Verdi):

1. "I've got to thank Brigham Young for a lot of my success. By playing that offense, with such an emphasis on throwing, I came into the NFL a lot more prepared than a lot of other college quarterbacks."

(But)

"Happiness was Provo in the rearview mirror."

2. "Pluto" (former BYU wide receiver Dan Plater from Reno) was a Mormon, like most of the students at BYU -- (but) not me, not on your life. But the difference was, Pluto was normal. He liked to have a few beverages and mess around. We became fast friends and even lived together for one hellacious summer out there."

3. "With four minutes left in the game (against Utah) I had 565 yards passing. The BYU record was 571 by Marc Wilson. I'd have loved to break it, but they took me out. Wilson was supposed to be the next Mormon superman. (They) couldn't let a cocky Catholic guy break his record.

"I don't imagine they're too thrilled back at BYU to call me an alum."

In the buildup to the Las Vegas Bowl, Cal quarterback Steve Levy said BYU "would match up with any team in the Pac-10."

This is just one more example of why you can't believe everything you read in the newspaper.

Unless, of course, USC seceded from the Pac-10 and didn't tell anybody.

The jersey number UNLV basketball coach Lon Kruger wore at Kansas State that will be retired at the Wildcats' game against Iowa State on Feb. 8.

The number of players who will have their basketball numbers retired at K-State. The others are Mike Evans and Chuckie Williams.

52-10

Last year's combined home-court record of Oklahoma State, Oregon State, Hawaii and Minnesota where UNLV recently went 0-4.

BYU quarterback John Beck:

"When we score a touchdown (at Wyoming) you hear a few peeps from the corner of the stadium. Not many fans go to Laramie because ... it's Laramie."

on the difference between playing in Las Vegas and elsewhere in the Mountain West.