Eat Your Wheaties

Sports and advertising have always gone hand-in-hand as companies have consistently turned to clean-living athletes to help boost their image and improve their visibility. That’s particularly evident when you look at the long and storied history of Wheaties.

The so-called “Breakfast of Champions” began its enduring relationship with jocks in 1934 when legendary New York Yankees infielder Lou Gehrig became the first professional athlete to appear on a box of Wheaties. The appearance came 10 years after Wheaties debuted on grocery shelves across America and it produced such encouraging results that the cereal continued to regularly feature baseball players over the next five years. By 1939, Wheaties had become so synonymous with America’s national pastime that 46 of the 51 players selected to the Major League Baseball All-Star Game were official Wheaties pitchmen.

The athlete with the most number of Wheaties appearances, meanwhile, is Michael Jordan. The five-time NBA MVP has appeared on the box 18 times, including three appearances with Dennis Rodman, one of the few players in the world flakier than the cereal itself.

Surprisingly, you don’t have to be a pro athlete to appear on a Wheaties box. The cereal has also turned the spotlight on big-game hunters, airline pilots, explorers, rodeo riders and even livestock breeders. So, maybe there’s hope for you yet!

In The Spotlight

Derrick Rose is proof that you can always go home again. A two-time state champion at Simeon Career Academy, this electrifying point guard returned to the Windy City in 2008 when he was picked first in the NBA draft by the Bulls. He has since led Chicago to back-to-back playoffs and has the team on the brink of its finest season in years. “I'm from Chicago, so it would mean a lot if I would just bring back one championship here,” he says. “It would mean so much to this city. I want to be that guy. I want to be that guy that does that.” Learn more about Rose by clicking here.

Come Fly With Me

Dominique Wilkins may have been known as “The Human Highlight Film,” but few players in NBA history have graced more posters or appeared in more post-game reels than Michael Jordan. Whether swooping through the air for a gravity-defying dunk or nailing a last-second jump shot, Jordan had an uncanny knack for making jaws drop. Prepare to have your mind blown as I celebrate the top 10 highlights of Jordan’s illustrious career by clicking here.

You've Got To Be Joking

Sit back and relax as you enjoy this week’s Sports Shorts.

CBS passed on an interview with Tiger Woods, saying that five minutes with the golfer wouldn’t be enough. There are hundreds of women out there who would probably disagree.

Tiger Woods has reportedly given his wife $150 million to stay in their relationship, and $300 million to always knock twice before entering his hotel room.

Bud Selig may realign baseball’s divisions. One option he’s seriously considering is moving the Orioles in the AL Central and moving the Nationals to Single A.

Ron Washington has tested positive for cocaine. The Rangers first suspected he had a problem after watching him snort the foul lines during the Seventh Inning Stretch.

Derrick Coleman has filed for bankruptcy. Financial, as well as moral. The former All-Star reportedly owes 99 creditors including American Express, Comerica and 75 different donut shops.

A three-game series between the Mets and Marlins has been moved from Miami to Puerto Rico. It’s unlikely anyone will be able to tell the difference.

Michael Jordan says he plans to run the Charlotte Bobcats his way… from Chicago. Jordan has called owning the Charlotte Bobcats a dream come true. After all, who doesn’t dream of owning a losing franchise that’s hemorrhaging money?

Chad Henne believes Tim Tebow is a second-rate quarterback. It takes one to know one.

According to a new study the odds a professional soccer player will be injured during a game are 1 in 75. And the odds that anyone in America will care are 1 in 75 million.

Ohio State’s Jim Tressel has become the first NCAA football coach to give an interview to a gay publication. Why do we get the sense that the discussion was mostly about tight ends?

The New York Police Department is looking for a suspect who looks just like Mariano Rivera. The Mets have offered to help on the off chance that he also PITCHES just like Mariano Rivera.

You've Got To Be Joking

Sit back and relax as you enjoy this week’s Sports Shorts.

The New Jersey Nets are offering free tax preparation for anyone who comes to a game. It’s an amazing deal if you don’t mind having your taxes prepared by Keyon Dooling.

Michael Jordan reportedly paid $175 million for the Bobcats. That’s just $175 more than the next highest bidder.

A record 52 players were moved at the NHL’s trade deadline. Unfortunately for them none of them were moved to other sports.

The Cubs have signed Cuban defector Juan Yasser Serrano. The 21-year-old must still pass a physical exam, although that shouldn’t be a problem for a man who swam all the way from Cuba to Miami.

The New York Knicks missed all 18 three pointers in a loss to the Nets. If there were such a thing as four pointers they probably would have missed a few of those too.

Rodney Stuckey caused a tremendous stir when he fainted during a game against the Cavs. You’d think by now Pistons fans would be used to dramatic collapses.

Georgetown's leading scorer Austin Freeman has been diagnosed with diabetes. Fortunately his long-term playing career should not be affected since, like most Hoyas, he probably won’t have one.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas is hoping to return to Cleveland. After all, it’s one of the few places in America where a guy who looks like Uncle Fester doesn’t stand out.

Nate Burleson announced on Twitter that he has joined the Detroit Lions. Burleson decided to forgo a press conference because he didn’t want everyone to see him cry.

Dodgers catcher Russell Martin is expected to miss the rest of Spring Training with a pulled groin. Something tells us he won’t miss it very much.

Question of the Week

Carlos, San Juan, PR
Subj: Salon de La Fama
Why is the International Basketball Hall of Fame in Alcobendas, Spain, and not in America, the birthplace of the sport?

America does in fact have its own hoops shrine known as the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Located in downtown Springfield, Massachusetts, this highly interactive museum has been honoring the sport’s greatest players, coaches, referees and other major contributors since 1968. However, although the Hall has inducted several international members over the years it does have a remarkably American bias. That’s why Spanish basketball coach Pedro Ferrándiz González undertook an ambitious campaign in 1990 to establish a FIBA Hall of Fame in his native country. Opened in 1991, the Hall was created with the lofty intention of preserving the heritage of international basketball. Recent inductees include Serbian center Vlade Divac, Lithuanian guard Sarunas Marciulionis, German forward Detlef Schrempf and American legends Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson. To find out more visit: www.halloffame.fiba.com

Question of the Week

Rodney, Spring, TX
Subj: Simply the best
How many basketball players have won an Olympic championship, an NBA championship and an NCAA championship?

Just seven. That small but illustrious fraternity includes Hall of Famers Clyde Lovelette, K.C. Jones, Bill Russell, Jerry Lucas, Quinn Buckner, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan. Incidentally, Johnson, Lucas and Buckner all developed winning traditions early in their careers by also capturing high school state championships.

Question of the Week

Donald, Waukesha, WS
Subj: Getting defensive
Has an NBA star ever been named Defensive Player of the Year while also leading the league in scoring?

You bet, Donald, but it’s only been done once. Michael Jordan accomplished that rarest of NBA feats in 1988 when he led the league with a lofty 35.0 scoring average while also playing lock-down defensive on the NBA’s best perimeter threats. Incidentally, his Airness is one of only five guards to be named the NBA’s top stopper since 1983 as the award has traditionally gone to 7-foot tall lane-clogging mutants.

What Were They Thinking?

On September 9, 2008, Lance Armstrong announced he would return to competitive cycling with the goal of winning the 2009 Tour de France. The indomitable Texan has since placed 29th in the Tour Down Under in Australia, had his bicycle stolen in Sacramento and had to withdraw from the Vuelta Castilla y León in Spain after breaking his collarbone. Sadly, Armstrong is hardly the first athlete to jeopardize his legacy by attempting an ill-advised comeback from retirement. Michael Jordan, Brett Favre and Muhammad Ali are among the other A-listers who sullied their reputations for another shot at glory. Click here to read my list of the top ten ill-advised comebacks in the sporting world.

Ask Ryan - Show Me Your Pitts

Welcome back for another edition of Ask Ryan, the column where sports and entertainment go together like Isiah Thomas and deep-seated delusion. This week's mailbag is bursting at the seams with queries about Brad Pitt's athletic career, football's first professional player and the NHL's most nomadic puckhead. Read all about it at: http://msn.foxsports.com/other/story/7658844

Ask Ryan, P.I.

Welcome back for another edition of Ask Ryan, the column where sports and entertainment go together like mistletoe and harassment charges. This week's mailbag is bursting at the seams with queries about the NFL's oldest player, Tom Selleck's brief basketball career and the origins of the Goodyear Blimp. Read all about it at: http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/7606980

Ask Ryan - Hot Off The Grill

Hi Gang,

Welcome back for another edition of Ask Ryan, the column where sports and entertainment collide like Lindsay Lohan into a Sunset Boulevard shrub. This week's mailbag is bursting at the seams with queries about Cy Young's legendary exploits, Jon Stewart's athletic prowess and the key to a great tailgaiting experience. Read all about it at: http://msn.foxsports.com/other/story/7084764