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Items included in this column are things that I have heard, seen or have been reported to me. I cannot vouch for their veracity.

Crickets

A man from India offered to sell one of his kidneys for 3500 pounds. His goal was to raise enough money to travel to the West Indies for the World Cup of Cricket.

As I understand it, a game of cricket is played between two teams "usually" composed of 11 players each. It's played on a grass field approximately oval in shape.

In the center of the field is a pitch. The pitch is a flat strip of ground 22 yards long. At each end of the pitch is a wicket. The wicket is made up of three parallel wooden stakes (stumps) driven into the ground. Two small crosspieces (bails) lay on top of the wickets.

A bowler (sort of like a baseball pitcher) throws a ball about the size of a baseball from one end of the pitch toward the other. The bowler's goal is to knock a bail off the wicket.

Sounds easy! However, in front of the wicket, is a batsman. The batsman, is armed with a flat cricket bat. The batsman defends the wicket, trying to prevent the bail(s) from being displaced.

The batsman is out (dismissed) if the bail is dislodged or if he strikes the ball and it is caught by one of the fielders before it hits the ground or one of the fielders throws the ball at the wicket and dislodges a bail while the batter attempts to exchange positions with a teammate (called a non-striker), stationed adjacent to the bowler and the other wicket (how's that for a sentence?).

One run is scored when the batsman and nonstriker successfully exchange positions before the fielders dislodge a bail. Apparently, the batsman may try to make this exchange at any time. However, this is usually done after striking the bowled (delivered) ball is struck. Runs (6) are scored if the batsman hits the ball all the way to the boundary without it touching the ground

Once out, a batsman is replaced with another batsman. The batting order may be altered (reordered) at any time, but each batsman may only bat once in an innings (that's right, AN innings).

The game is divided into overs. At the end of an over, the batting and bowling ends are swapped. Typically, two innings matches are played over three to five days with six hours of playing time per day. One innings matches are usually played in one day. In both cases, breaks are granted for lunches and teas.

Speaking of Crickets...The little chirping relatives of the grasshopper can tell us the temperature. Most of the chirping comes from males, who make the noise by rubbing their little wings against ridges on their chest cavities.

According to The Old Farmers Almanac, if you count the number of chirps in 14 seconds and add 40, you have quite accurately predicted the temperature in Fahrenheit degrees. For example, 30 (chirps in 14 seconds) + 40 = 70 degrees. To convert to Celsius, count the number of chirps over a 25 second span. Divide the total by three and add four. For example, 48 chirps divided by three = 16 plus 4 = 20 degrees Celsius.

Scientists think that the crickets are likely chirping to attract potential mates. Other reasons may include staking out territory to discourage other males and warning the species of approaching danger.

Basketballs

A former basketball agent named Keith Glass negotiated a deal with the Houston Rockets that would pay his client, Chuck Nevitt, $350,000 in the third year of his contract....IF Nevitt could gain 20 pounds per year and weigh 257 pounds.

The Rockets released Nevitt after three games of the first year. After the third season, Glass successfully collected $350,000 for Nevitt (and himself) even though Nevitt hadn't played for almost three seasons.

Thomas Hamilton led his Martin Luther High School team to the Illinois championship in 1993. He was described as the best "Big Man" prospect in the country. Two years later, the 7'2" 330 pounder had ballooned to 370 pounds. He had attended Pittsburgh University, but never played in a game.

With the help of an agent and a diet, he got down to 328 pounds and was signed by the Toronto Raptors. He returned the Chicago to visit and dine with friends. Three weeks later, he weighed 408.

He did not become a big star in the NBA.

The Minnesota Timberwolves' lack of success has quelled interest for many locals. However, the upcoming NBA Draft has spawned a number of mock drafts. Nearly every one of them predicts that Ohio State's Greg Oden and Kevin Durant will be the first two choices. Many of the prognosticators include three of the University of Florida's starting five from the last two seasons in their next eight selections. No wonder the Gators are the two-time National Champions.

I played golf last Saturday with my 93 year-old neighbor. I played particularly poorly until the final two holes. I am encouraged, however. I wrote a note to myself this spring that 102 year-old Elsie McLean became the oldest person to ever record a hole-in-one. She recorded the ace in Chico California.

You are invited to send interesting, unusual and/or humorous items that could possibly be used in this space. If you choose to do so, please send it to [email protected].

If you prefer, you may send it to

Chisago County Press

Attn: Dave

12631 Lake Blvd.

Lindstrom, Mn 55045

or, you may bring it in to the office.

Sports stuff would be great, but, please do not limit yourselves. Politics, religion, culture (pop or otherwise) are welcomed. Please do not feel offended if your contribution is not included.

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