Over at the blog Awful Announcing, a warning was posted about a new NBC reality show: “Rockstar Curling.”

Yes, Rockstar Curling. The Toronto Star picks up the story for you:

“NBC confirmed yesterday it has an exclusive option to air a 10-episode sports reality show that will give the winners a shot at competing in the U.S. championships and even going to the 2010 Olympics.

“And one aspect that would make this a draw to the button for NBC is a plan to land closet curlers Bruce Springsteen or Jon Bon Jovi as part of the show, assuming the rockers aren’t worried what being connected to a sport with brooms might do to their images.

“ ‘This show is all about the opportunity to expose American viewers to curling,’ said Colin Campbell, Canadian president of mktpartners and one of the creators of the show. ‘We feel there might be some great athletes out there who might develop into good curlers given the chance.’”

Well, good luck with all that.

MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE

Questions to ponder while wondering if Trent Green would want to finish his career in his hometown as Marc Bulger’s back-up:

• What is it about Buffalo and throat-slashing hockey injuries?
• Won’t the Royals feel odd going to spring training without Mike Sweeney? Hasn’t he been with the team since, like, 1972?
• Who could have possibly guessed that John Rocker would admit to ‘roiding up in his career?

WHEN IN FLORIDA, BEHAVE LIKE A HURRICANE

Tipsheet is never surprised to see a hockey player involved in tavern fisticuffs. That’s the way icemen keep it real.

But we must wag our finger at Montreal Canadiens Ryan O’Byrne, who was busted for felony grand theft after allegedly taking a woman’s purse. He and teammate Tom Kostopoulos (resisting arrest) got nabbed outside a Tampa nightclub.

O’Byrne’s story: He believed the purse belonged to his girlfriend. Coach Guy Carbonneau sounded ready to forgive him.

“We are in 2008, it’s not the first year something like this has happened,” Carbonneau said. “The two players were not suspended but I haven’t decided yet if they will play against Tampa Bay. We met with them to hear their version. We wanted to know the truth. It’s too bad, but at least no one got hurt.”

QUIPS ‘R US

Here is what some of America’s leading sports pundits have been writing:

Jason Whitlock, FoxSports.com, on Roger Clemens: “Clemens doesn’t want his life to change. He’s addicted to being the most important and celebrated man in Texas. A steroids conviction in the court of public opinion would sentence him to a life outside the spotlight, a life Mark McGwire intelligently chose. I guess, in Clemens’ mind, McGwire might as well be O.J. Simpson.”

Rick Morrissey, Chicago Tribune: “With so much dissatisfaction surrounding (Bruce) Weber the last couple of years, would you hire the now free and still loutish Bob Knight, given the chance? Or, as Knight’s many detractors might say, would you be willing to sell your soul to the devil? I know, crazy talk. The very thought of Knight rolling up the sleeves of an orange sweater is very, very painful for those of you who agreed with Lou Henson that the General is ‘a classic bully.’ But it’s intriguing crazy talk, is it not?”

Dan Daly, Washington Times: “Is it just me, or has Roger Clemens spent more time lobbying Capitol Hill recently than Jack Abramoff ever did? And now, reports say, Brian McNamee, Clemens’ former lidocaine provider, is telling investigators he injected Rocket’s wife with HGH before a Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition photo session five years ago. Well, that explains her 1.17 WHIP and 4-to-1 strikeouts-to-walks ratio in ‘03.”

Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel: “Glad to see Urban Meyer was cleared of any wrongdoing in the recruitment of the gymnast who is the girlfriend of star football prospect Carl Moore, but I’m still wondering why he just hired Bela Karolyi as his new defensive line coach.”

Norman Chad, syndicated columnist: “Bob Knight quit last week, citing fatigue from throwing chairs, grabbing students, choking players and shoving LSU fans into trash cans.”

David Thomas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram: “After listening to a variety of college football coaches tout their latest recruiting classes, I’ve decided that every team is going to win a conference championship next season.”

Bill Simmons, ESPN.com, on the NBA All-Star Game: “What’s wrong with rolling the dice and taking a few chances? Who would be hurt if we had an ‘American Players vs. International Players; All-Star Game one year? Or if we scrapped the Long-Distance Shootout for a year of H-O-R-S-E? Why keep the Rookie-Sophomore Game going when the Rookies get slaughtered every year? Couldn’t we just have two teams of rookies and sophs so it’d be a better game? The NBA confuses me sometimes. It’s really not that hard to mix things up and still maintain the tradition of the weekend.”

MEGAPHONE

“I can’t imagine that he wanted to pick up and move again. I don’t think that fit into his scheme of the way he wanted to live his life. But I do think it will re-energize him. I think he has got something to prove again, and I think it could be good for him.”

Lakers coach Phil Jackson, on Shaquille O’Neal’s move to Phoenix.