Jockstrip: The World As We Know It

WE'LL NEVER KNOW WHO BOUGHT SPIKE'S TICKET

One of the great guessing games in recent weeks has centered on the identity of the high-bidder who paid $101,000 in an online auction for the courtside seat next to filmmaker Spike Lee for Tuesday night's game between the New York Knicks and the Washington Wizards.

The attraction, of course, was the return of Michael Jordan to the NBA and Madison Square Garden. The proceeds from the auction went to the Fire Department's Widows and Children's Fund.

The seat was occupied by 12-year-old Jessica DeRubbio -- a seventh-grader from Brooklyn who had never seen the Knicks in person before and could not possibly have afforded to spend $100,000 for the privilege.

It turns out the winning bidder, who preferred to remain anonymous, donated the ticket to Jessica. Her father, David, was a New York firefighter who was killed on Sept. 11.

Lee told gossip columnist Mitchell Fink "the big winner" in all this "was the guy who wrote the check."

Jordan scored 19 points in the Wizards' 93-91 loss to the Knicks.

(Thanks to UPI Hollywood Reporter Pat Nason)

THINGS WE DON'T UNDERSTAND

A Canadian medicine man is facing up to nine years in prison -- even though he says he never knew it was illegal to give out feathers and eagle bones during his native dances.

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports a federal jury has convicted 47-year-old Terry Antoine of five counts of violating the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. He was accused of wandering the West several years ago, bartering and selling eagle parts. Police found 124 eagles and 90 pairs of talons in his home and illegal items in a storage locker.

While in his early 20s, elders of Antoine's tribe singled him out to be an "eagle dancer" because of the royal lineage of his mother's family.

(Thanks to UPI Feature Reporter Dennis Daily)

NEWS OF OTHER LIFE FORMS

There's a Web page devoted to the old TV show "Bewitched." It's at bewitched.net.

Created by Wendy Orgren, the site delves into all the arcana of that famous mid-60s suburban witch Samantha Stephens, who could do just about anything by wriggling her nose.

TODAY'S SIGN THE WORLD IS ENDING

It is now illegal in the state of New York to talk on a hand-held cell phone while driving. So-called "hands-free" cell phone calls are OK. Emergency calls are exempt.

AND FINALLY, TODAY'S UPLIFTING STORY

Santa Claus is preparing for his annual railroad journey through Appalachia.

On Saturday, Nov. 17, the jolly elf will help launch the holiday season by riding the "Santa Special," a CSX Transportation Inc. (CSXT) train that brings gifts and joy to remote areas of Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee.

This year --- its 59th -- the "Santa Special" begins a new tradition of distributing gifts only at designated stops in 13 towns along the 110-mile route. Residents living in or near these communities are encouraged to gather at the stop location to welcome Santa to town. The train begins in Shelby, Ky., with stops in Marrowbone and Elkhorn, Ky., and the Virginia communities of Haysi, Fremont, Dante, St. Paul, Dungannon, Fort Blackmore, Speers Ferry, Kermit and Waycross, before arriving in Kingsport, Tenn.

Along the way, Santa and an army of elves will distribute more than 15 tons of gifts.

Joining Santa for this year's journey will be country music star Joe Diffie and 11-year-old rising star Kree Harrison.