Last Friday, Fernley, Nev., offensive lineman Kevin Hart made an oral commitment to California – choosing the school over Pac-10 rival Oregon.

He made the announcement in a packed school gymnasium, with his family in the front row. Local TV stations covered the event. It was a big day in the young man’s life.

“This is a great day for Fernley High School,” coach Mark Hodges told the crowd. “This is one young man who is going to represent us on the national level. But we’ll always remember he came from Fernley.”

Hart was thrilled that Bears coach Jeff Tedford himself had show so much interest in him. “They really sold me,” Hart said at the time. “Coach Tedford and I talked a lot, and the fact that the head coach did most of the recruiting of me kind of gave me the real personal experience.”

Unfortunately, the Reno Gazette-Journal reports that California never actually recruited Hart. Neither did Oregon.

Apparently Hart was the victim of an elaborate ruse, perhaps orchestrated by a recruiting middleman. The Lyon County Sheriff’s Department is investigating.

Hart, a 6-foot-5, 290-pound guard, is rated as a two-star prospect by Rivals.com. It will be interesting to see where the poor kid actually ends up playing football.

MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE

Questions to ponder while the Blues try to tighten up their defensive zone play:

• Will Tedy Bruschi, Junior Seau and Rodney Harrison all pack it in for the Patriots as that team regroups?
• Any chance we’ll see a Congressional investigation of Bill Belichick and “Spygate” once Washington is done milking the steroid controversy?
• How in the world will super-sized Shaquille O’Neal keep up with the Suns offense? Will he be allowed to ride a golf cart up and down the court?

WEIRD INJURY OF WEEK

Kings center Brad Miller suffered a nine-inch cut on his right index finger, making him questionable for tonight’s game against Seattle.

It seems he cut himself with a knife while doing the dishes. That’s right, a millionaire NBA player was actually working in the kitchen

“It’s the last time I help do dishes,” Miller said.

QUIPS ‘R US

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

Steven Rosenbloom, ChicagoSports.com, on Bob Knight’s midseason retirement: “Not to forget Knight’s accomplishments: most wins, three NCAA titles, a perfect season. What’s more, he was never under scrutiny for going Belichick on the NCAA recruiting rulebook. But he will be remembered largely for being a blowhard who demanded respect while publicly blowing his nose on the concept so many times. Also not to forget that Knight frequently questioned the toughness of some of his players. And here he is, walking out early. Do we file this under ‘weenie,’ or what?”

Norman Chad, syndicated columnist: “If I knew the Red Sox, Patriots and Celtics were going to be this good at the same time, I would’ve rooted for the South in the Civil War.”

Jay Mariotti, Chicago Sun-Times: “Eli Manning was supposed to be a wannabe nepotist, the one riding his brother’s bloodlines, the one often compared to Rex Grossman for his brain cramps and killer mistakes. As recently as two months ago in Soldier Field, Eli often made Grossman look like Tom Brady. His lasting career vision, it seemed, would be the ESPN ad where Peyton is picking on him in the hallway — flicking his ear, shoving him, then sneak-attacking him with a backwards kick in the rear — while Archie, Olivia and oldest brother Cooper are being given a studio tour by anchor John Anderson. Eli seemed pigeon-holed as a nice kid who was in over his head in New York, where the media and fans eventually would devour him.”

Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle: “Belichick is being raked over the coals here by detractors for his cheating caper this season. And now Sen. Arlen Specter is threatening to investigate the NFL for destroying the confiscated Patriots’ spy tapes. Paris Hilton is miffed that someone else’s videos are getting more attention than hers.”

Jim Armstrong, Denver Post, on Belichick: “He didn’t change his image so much as enhance it. With one second left and the officials scrambling to get the players on the field, there was Boorish Bill walking up the tunnel. Talk about classless. Henceforth, his beloved hoodie won’t be Belichick’s only prop. He’ll have to carry the baggage from his Super Bowl stunt wherever he goes.”

MEGAPHONE

“I wasn’t really sure of the time. Everybody started on to the field and then I got over there and I wanted to congratulate Tom (Coughlin). I’ve been in that situation before after the game. I wanted to get over there and congratulate him and congratulate him on the championship. There really wasn’t much left at that point.”

Belichick, explaining why he abandoned his team on the field for the final play of the Super Bowl.