Floyd suffers loss

Retired-for-the-moment boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. has long loved flaunting his money and bling.

A year ago on the MTV show "Cribs," which takes viewers inside the homes of millionaire entertainers and athletes, the champion fighter showed off various pieces of custom-made jewelry. At least someone was watching.

Mayweather this week sought publicity for a reported Aug. 17 break-in at his Summerlin home, when he claims $7 million in gaudy jewelry was stolen.

Since walking away from boxing in June, the 31-year-old Mayweather has allegedly been knocked out in a nightclub by a former sparring partner and now been burglarized.

He might want to seriously consider a return to the ring, where at least he never suffered any losses.

• HOCKEY MOM -- If the Republican ticket of Sen. John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin were to win the November election, it could boost hockey's popularity in the United States.

Palin, the vice presidential candidate from Alaska, boasts that she is a proud "hockey mom."

In her speech Wednesday at the Republican National Convention explained the difference between a pit bull and a hockey mom: "Lipstick."

We assume the moms are the ones wearing the lipstick. Otherwise, animal rights activists might pounce on Palin for suggesting some sort of odd abuse of dogs.

• UH OH, CUBBIES -- The lovable Chicago Cubs lead the National League Central and seem to be a playoff lock.

With a chance to win a World Series for the first time in 100 years, what could happen? Darn near anything.

On Thursday, the Cubbies were told ace right-hander Carlos Zambrano has rotator cuff tendinitis and inflammation in his throwing shoulder.

Zambrano (13-5) could resume throwing Wednesday and then start a game in the following series.

If he can't, extra security will be needed on northside Chicago rooftops, and it won't have anything to do with the falling stock market.

• DIRTY DUCK CALLS -- People calling a federal phone number to order duck stamps are instead greeted by a phone-sex line, because of a printing error the government says would be too expensive to correct.

The carrier card for the duck stamp transposes two numbers, so instead of listing 1-800-782-6724, it lists 1-800-872-6724. The first number spells out 1-800-STAMP24, while the second number spells out 1-800-TRAMP24.

People calling that second number are welcomed by "Intimate Connections" and enticed by a husky female voice to "talk only to the girls that turn you on," for $1.99 a minute.

Duck stamps, which cost $15 apiece, are required to hunt migratory waterfowl. This year's stamps went on sale July 1 and are good through June 30 of next year. The error will not be corrected until next year's duck stamps.

The Fish and Wildlife Service printed about 3.5 million duck stamps attached to cards with the wrong number. An agency spokeswoman, Rachel Levin, said it would cost $300,000 to reprint them.

STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS