Non-sound bite costly for Tebow

Apparently Tim Tebow, Florida quarterback and well-known missionary, ditches the turn-the-other-cheek policy once the game begins.

Tebow was caught by referees -- and on camera -- giving the Gator chomp to Oklahoma safety Nic Harris late in Thursday's national title game. Harris had been doing some chomping -- and woofing -- throughout the game, but Tebow was flagged for an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty.

Tebow tried to get his squeaky-clean image back on track during the postgame news conference.

"I didn't trash talk or say anything, but I did the Gator chomp," Tebow said. "I was pretty excited and just gave it a little Gator chomp, and it was also for the fans. I think they kind of enjoyed it."

Yeah, the fans. The overnight Nielsens from Norman, Okla., still are pending on that one.

Gators coach Urban Meyer immediately jumped into the media session, saying, "He's running tomorrow at 6 a.m. We'll teach him a lesson."

So far, no video evidence of that on YouTube.

• CASTING FAVORITES -- Florida receiver Percy Harvin could not contain his delight in being vindicated after the Gators' victory.

"There's no better feeling," Harvin said. "Nobody gave us a chance to win the game. They said we weren't tough enough."

Uh, Percy. The Gators came into the game ranked No. 1 by the AP and were favored in the game.

Kind of makes you wonder whether Florida students are required to do their homework.

• STIFFING SOCCER -- As the national press hastily was checking out of the media hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Friday, a banner was on display welcoming Major League Soccer, which was holding a scouting combine in the city.

It proves nothing makes football writers flee like the sight of futbol players.

• WAL-MART 1, YANKEES 0 -- Mike Finger of the San Antonio Express-News, in compiling an off-the-wall tale of the tape in preparation for last week's Bowl Championship Series title game, gave Oklahoma product Helen Walton the edge over Florida's Hal Steinbrenner in the "Heir to the Throne" category.

Finger's reasoning: "At least Wal-Mart is open in October."

• FAST COMPANY -- Jamaica's Usain Bolt, the world's fastest man, edged U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps for 2008 Athlete of the Year in voting by the International Sports Press Association.

"The vote was 1,673 to 1,557," noted Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle, "so it was the closest race Bolt had all year."

• LET'S GO CRAZY -- Steve Rosenbloom of Chicago Sports.com isn't nuts over the Cubs' signing of mercurial outfielder Milton Bradley.

"In the last five seasons, Bradley has gone at it with a general manager, manager, teammate, announcer and fan," Rosenbloom noted. "So, he has gone crazy for the cycle."

• GO TAKE A WALK -- From David Letterman's Top 10 Signs You're Watching Too Much Football: "Only fresh air you've had this month is opening door for pizza delivery guy."

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL WIRE SERVICES