Coach K, Big Brown and Spoleto

Sporting notes compiled while scalping Spoleto tickets:

--Former College of Charleston basketball coach John Kresse is recovering nicely from prostate cancer surgery last week. His recovery and prognosis are very good.

--Mary-Louise Pawlowski, 13-year-old daughter of College of Charleston baseball coach John Pawlowski, received excellent news this week. The tumor in her chest wall has been ruled cancer-free, but she will continue chemotherapy treatments for a few more months.

--Joe Marion, an assistant football coach at Stratford High School who happens to be a highly respected college baseball umpire, will miss the NCAA Regionals this year because he is sidelined with a knee injury.

--Former future Hall of Fame pitcher Roger Clemens is still suffering from a severe case of denial.

--Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Jason Taylor missed practice this week due to dance fever.

"Now I've had the time of my life/ No I never felt like this before/ Yes I swear it's all the truth/ And I owe it all to you." "Time Of My Life," Bill Medley.

Mercy rule

--Sad to report that golfer Annika Sorenstam has announced her retirement from competitive golf at the tender age of 37. She will, however, compete in next week's Ginn Tribute Hosted By Annika at RiverTowne Country Club in Mount Pleasant.

--Happy to report that Michelle Wie, after a shameful performance at last year's Ginn Tribute, has not been invited back this year.

--Eighty runs were scored in two Southern Conference Tournament baseball games that lasted almost nine hours! Where's the pitching?

--A 10-run "mercy rule" was discussed by Southern Conference Baseball Tournament officials this week after games lasted until after 2 a.m. at Riley Park.

--Some wags in the press box said the solution to long college baseball games would be to enlarge home plate from 18 inches wide to 30 inches wide to help the pitchers throw strikes.

--Speaking of next year, the Southern Conference is moving its basketball tournament from Charleston to Chattanooga and its baseball tournament from Charleston to Greenville. We'll miss you. Sorta.

--Did you see that photo the other day of the photographer who caught a javelin in his leg? That was my event in high school track, javelin catcher.

"A-rounding third and headed for home, it's a brown-eyed handsome man/ Anyone can understand the way I feel." "Centerfield," John Fogerty.

Big shoes

--Is it June yet? It's almost time to start watching the NBA playoffs.

--Big Brown is the Tiger Woods of thoroughbred racing. Untouchable.

--A golf tournament last week at The River Course on Kiawah Island to

--benefit the Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic raised more than $260,000. That's got to be some kind of record.

--Don't know who the next athletic director for The Citadel will be, but they'll have some big shoes to fill. Les Robinson wears size 13.

--Expect an announcement from the military school next week.

"These boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do/ One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you." "These Boots Are Made For Walking," Nancy Sinatra.

Reach Ken Burger at kburger@postandcourier.com or (843) 937-5598.