JACK NICKLAUS was offered special exemptions for the
next three U.S. Opens by the USGA. Nicklaus, who has played
in 144 consecutive majors, will call the USGA back this week
to respond to the offer (Mult., 3/17)....PPG CART World
Series Champion ALEX ZANARDI appeared on the "Late Show"
with DAVID LETTERMAN last night. Zanardi, when asked what
it's like to drive at 230 MPH: "If you go slower, people
pass you." Letterman, on the difference in speed between
CART and NASCAR: "Those NASCAR guys -- many of them are
sissies" (CBS, 3/16)....Yankees Owner GEORGE STEINBRENNER is
profiled in USA TODAY. Steinbrenner, on owning the Yankees
for 25 years: "ABC got it right: the thrill of victory, the
agony of defeat. I'm a living, walking, two-legged example
of that. We've had some of the greatest moments of my life
and some of the most devastating" (USA TODAY, 3/17)....
Raptors G DEE BROWN, formerly captain of the Celtics, was
interviewed in the Sunday's BOSTON GLOBE MAGAZINE. Brown,
on whether he feels an obligation to give back to the
community: "Celebrities, athletes, entertainers: So much is
there for you, why not give a lot of it back? I've made a
lot of money. I feel like giving back, not because that's
what you're 'supposed' to do, but because there are a lot of
people out there who need it" (BOSTON GLOBE MAGAZINE, 3/15).
