Leftovers: Ex-UConn player tied to con game

Tate George apparently knows how to put the con in UConn.

The former Connecticut basketball standout is standing trial in U.S. District Court for reportedly bilking investors out of $2 million for a project in Bridgeport, Conn. One of the investors was another former Connecticut basketball standout — Charlie Villanueva — who says he put up $250,000 with George but didn’t see a dime in return.

According to The Trentonian of Trenton, N.J., in 2010 George convinced Villanueva, currently a member of the Detroit Pistons, to give back to the community through George’s Seaview Plaza project, which was intended to revitalize Bridgeport. Villanueva agreed after being promised a profit of roughly $2 million, and he became part of a list of investors who fell prey to George, who was charged with wire fraud.

Villanueva told The Trentonian that it hurt him personally to be bilked by a fellow UConn alum and athlete.

“It’s $250,000 that could have gone to my son’s education,” he said.

And they say never do business with family.

■ OOPS AGAIN — By now, those who listen to New York Yankees radio broadcasts have become accustomed to John Sterling’s over-the-top home run calls. You know, the “It is high … it is far ... it is …gone!” shtick. And over the years, he has botched his fair share of calls.

But Tuesday in Toronto, Sterling might have hit an all-time low, even for him. With Alex Rodriguez up and sending a fly ball to right-center field, Sterling went into his home run call, ready to proclaim “It’s an A-bomb for A-Rod!” Only, the ball didn’t leave the park at Rogers Centre. Not even close. Rajai Davis caught it, leaving Sterling to apologize.

First he thought the ball cleared the wall. Then he thought the ball hit the ledge and went over the wall. Finally, Sterling conceded that Davis made the catch.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” he said. “I got that all wrong. I got that all wrong. At the wall, Davis made the catch. Honestly, I thought he gave up on the ball. But he made the catch.”

The Yankees, who have everything under the sun sponsored by someone, perhaps should have Sterling’s play-by-play sponsored by stupid.com.

■ QUIET PLEASE — Apparently, the exuberance of Seattle Seahawks fans didn’t sit well with a couple of San Francisco 49ers fans after the Niners fell 29-3 Sunday at CenturyLink Field in Seattle.

Judy Spelman and Rich Schiller of Marin County wrote a letter to the editor of the San Francisco Chronicle complaining about the home-field advantage the Seahawks enjoy and suggesting that the NFL step in and stop play when the noise exceeds a certain decibel level. Further, they suggested that should the “noise rule” be violated three times, the offending team should lose its rights to host games the rest of the season.

It would be nice to think this was written tongue-in-cheek. But given the fanaticism of the 49ers fans, these two likely were serious. Maybe they need to go to the library in their hometown of Point Reyes Station to get a little peace and quiet.

COMPILED BY STEVE CARP LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL