All these years later, baseball fans can still drive down the Mark McGwire Highway while coming downtown to the ballpark. We’re guessing fans have mixed feelings about that.

Back in 2005, Rep. William L. Clay campaigned to get Big Mac’s name off the freeway . . . but it’s still there.

Down in South Florida, a similar issue has arisen. Miami-Dade County Commissioner Joe Martinez wants to remove Jose Canseco’s name from Southwest 16th Street in West Miami. His resolution cleared is first hurdle Tuesday; it now goes to the full Board of County Commissioners for a final vote

“I think it’s an embarrassment,” Martinez told the Miami Herald. “It runs through my district, right by my office.”

Martinez was less concerned about Jose’s assorted legal woes as his unabashed support of steroid use. Canseco’s book, “Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant ‘Roids, Smash Hits and How Baseball Got Big,” was the clincher for the politician.

“It’s the fact that he did it, and he lied for such a long time,” Martinez said. “The book was just to make money.”

Speaking of books, here is the big knucklehead with David Letterman:

McGwire has kept a much lower profile since leaving the game. But like Jose, Big Mac still believes he could play if somebody wanted him.

Hmmm . . . if Albert did go down for elbow surgery, wouldn’t it be fun to bring the big man to spring training, just to see if there is anything left?

MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE

Questions to ponder while wondering New England copes with life without Tom Brady:

• Who could have possibly guessed Shawne Merriman’s shredded knee wouldn’t hold up for a whole season?
• Will the Cardinals be able to shoulder still another big injury? How will they replace Troy Glaus’ power in the lineup?
• On the other hand, what has gotten into Felipe Lopez? Did he just realize he could make a little money in the free-agent marketplace this winter?

DISASTROUS CELEBRATION OF WEEK

Fabian Espindola plays for the Real Salt Lake of the MLS. When he believed he scored a goal against the Los Angeles Galaxy – he was actually offside – he celebrated by doing a flip . . . and suffered a broken leg in the process.

“I’m embarrassed,” Espindola said. “I’m never going to do that again. I don’t know what happened. I’ve done it a million times. If I would have known I never would have done it.”

QUIPS ‘R US

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

Mark Kriegel, FoxSports.com: “You’re down nine points with 3:05 remaining, what do you call? Clinton Portis, off-tackle. Again. So I wonder, who does Jim Zorn’s clock management? Harold, or Kumar?”

Bill Simmons, ESPN.com, on Matt Cassel filling in for Brady: “If you’re looking for a Hollywood comparison, it’s clearly ‘Varsity Blues’ (click here for my review): Brady as Lance Harbor (the golden boy with a smoking-hot girlfriend who blew his knee out in the first game), Cassel as Jonathan Moxon (the career backup who never imagined he’d actually play), Wes Welker as Tweeder (the team’s most reliable receiver even though he’s 5-foot-7), Laurence Maroney as the starting running back with every tool who never gets touches in the end zone and kills your fantasy team, and Bill Belichick as Bud Kilmer (the Hall of Fame coach who isn’t afraid to bend the rules). Everything is there except for Billy Bob, the lovable fat guy who scored the championship-winning TD in the movie; we don’t have a Billy Bob unless Vince Wilfork can gain another 100 pounds between now and December.”

Greg Cote, Miami Herald: “Roger Clemens‘ son was arrested after a disturbance outside a Virginia restaurant. Cannot confirm the Rocket is trying to figure a way to blame the incident on his former trainer.”

Will Leitch, Deadspin, pulling against the Rams: “Scott Linehan is the new Wayne Fontes; I hope they never fire him.”

Jeff Schultz, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “The Oakland Raiders hoped DeAngelo Hall would be a difference-maker. And he is. He just turned Eddie Royal into Jerry Rice.”

Steve Rosenbloom, Chicago Tribune: “Looks like the Cubs and White Sox will make the playoffs for the same reason: The Brewers and Twins stock their bullpens with the forbidden love children of LaTroy Hawkins and Mel Rojas. Criticize the Sox all you want for having a softball team that relies on the home run, but it’s better than the Twins playing like Little Leaguers who don’t play past the sixth inning.”

MEGAPHONE

“I took my visit to USC, I’m like, ‘How are they successful? They’re not even serious about the game.’ Before the game, they’re all going crazy. Me and [defensive end] Rob Rose was on the visit and I’m looking like, ‘Wow.’ And then the coach said, ‘You better get out of here. It’s ’bout to get hectic.’”

Ohio State receiver Ray Small.