Green O.P.

Olden Polynice, the erstwhile Jazz backup center, was in the spotlight recently, when he appeared at a Playboy Mansion environmental gala.

Asked by Mother Nature News reporter Sarah Backhouse why he was supporting the cause, he replied, "I'm a father, I have kids, and I want them to enjoy ... breathing."

Hard to argue with that.

He went on to say he has always been concerned about the environment.

Which is nice to know, considering his free-throw shooting polluted the environment for 15 seasons in the NBA.

Pol(yn)ice

Polynice was involved in a road rage incident in 2000 and convicted of impersonating an officer. In another matter, he was charged with misdemeanor assault following an altercation at a golf course and fined for shouting obscenities at a prosecutor.

Which made it all the more awkward when — true story — Backhouse began her interview by saying, "I'm now joined by Olden Police."

Food storage

A news release from UNLV was distributed Saturday, prior to the Rebels' football game against Utah, stating that due to "our state's current economic crisis" there have been numerous cost-cutting measures. Among them: no media lunch in the press box.

There goes that much-loved, time-honored tradition.

Still, no big deal.

Rock On plans to improvise next time by stuffing his pockets with food from the $7.99 buffet at the Sahara.

Understandable

First-year New Mexico football coach Mike Locksley has been suspended for 10 days after punching an assistant coach.

Which seems a little harsh.

Who didn't sometimes want to punch Andy Ludwig when he was calling plays for the Utes?

Mixed returns

Ex-wrestler Jerry "The King" Lawler seems to have done it all.

Except maybe win an election.

The commentator and part-time artist lost in the race for Memphis mayor last week. He has also drawn the cover of Zorro comic.

"I've actually been an artist a lot longer than I've been a wrestler," Lawler told the Chicago Sun-Times. "My mom is a big fan of my artwork. Never a fan of my wrestling."

Which is a bit like Rock On's wife when he asked her to read a recent effort.

Big fan of him, she said, never a fan of his columns.

Rushing ahead

Jeff Gordon, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, on the Rush Limbaugh-NFL controversy: "So what did we learn from the Rush Limbaugh adventure? Prospective NFL ownership groups should keep a veil of anonymity over the identity of their investors. Dave Checketts learned this the hard way when his bid to buy the Rams came under fire."

According to Limbaugh, Checketts told him he had previously cleared the idea with NFL management.

Who knew he'd need to clear it with Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, too?

e-mail: rock@desnews.com