No Question, Barkley Says, Jordan Rules

Who is the most famous person in the world? In Charles Barkley’s opinion it’s a slam dunk--his friend and court rival Michael Jordan.

“Nobody is as famous as Michael,” Barkley told Michael Murphy of the Houston Chronicle. “He’s the most famous person in the world. That’s why he has to travel with bodyguards.

“He has unbelievable talent, great charisma and personality. He’s unbelievable.”

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Trivia time: Who became the first former UCLA player to score in the Super Bowl?

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Seller’s market: Although it’s illegal to scalp tickets in New Orleans, the Associated Press reports that four columns of classified advertisements in the Times Picayune offer cash for Super Bowl tickets.

Prices range from $750 for seats in the upper levels of the Superdome to $2,000 for lower seats as well as tickets to various Super Bowl-related parties.

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Where am I? C.W. Nevius of the San Francisco Chronicle on new 49er Coach Steve Mariucci: “Can Mariucci lead this team to the Super Bowl? Right now he wouldn’t be a good bet to lead them to the men’s room. Someone would have to point him in the right direction at the 49er practice facility.”

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Come again? Professional high diver John Maxson on the dangers of plunging into a pool from as high as 80 feet: “It’s the safest thing in the world, but it could kill you.”

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Cheese drought: Tony Kornheiser of the Washington Post thinks Green Bay Packer fans will be put off by New Orleans, the Super Bowl site, because of the lack of cheese in Cajun and Creole cooking.

“There’s no cheese in jambalaya, no cheese in gumbo, no cheese in shrimp remoulade. It’s a Cheese-free zone. Mon Dieu! The people of New Orleans don’t know jack!”

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Golf warning: In the February issue of Golf Digest, Dan Jenkins had a list of “nevers.” A sampling:

--”Never play golf with a guy who keeps those little sweaters on the club heads of his irons.

--”Never play golf with a guy whose nickname is stitched into his gigantic leather bag.”

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So there! Reflecting on New England’s opening NFL playoff victory over Pittsburgh, Patriot running back-tight end Keith Byars told the Boston Herald, “The Steelers have kind of a bully mentality, and the way to beat a bully is to come in and throw the first punch.”

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FYI: No punt has ever been returned for a touchdown in the Super Bowl.

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Trivia answer: Efren Herrera, who kicked two field goals and two extra points for the Dallas Cowboys in a 27-10 victory over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XII in 1978.

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And finally: An aggressive bellman met the 49ers when they arrived at their team hotel in Pontiac, Mich., for Super XVI in 1982. He grabbed all the luggage he could get his hands on. Some of the players shoved him aside.

Several minutes passed before someone recognized the bellman. It was San Francisco Coach Bill Walsh. The 49ers defeated Cincinnati, 26-21.