Olympian White lands Perfect 10

Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Bar Refaeli has dated Leonardo DiCaprio, and it wouldn't be surprising if George Clooney is waiting in the wings.

But she recently complained about the lack of attention from men - they're probably too intimidated to approach a model who rates an 11 on a scale to 10.

Olympic snowboarder Shaun White, who doesn't exactly remind anyone of DiCaprio or Clooney, wasn't afraid to try.

Refaeli met White at a New York nightclub this week and they were "dancing, hugging and kissing," according New York Post sources.

Now single guys everywhere have hope, but a word of caution. Owning two Olympic gold medals helps.

■ IDENTITY CRISIS - The New Jersey Devils are based in the greater New York area, but even though they reside just across the Hudson River, that is far enough for those who think the world begins and ends in Manhattan.

New York's WABC probably stopped caring when the Devils eliminated the hometown Rangers to reach the Stanley Cup Finals against the Los Angeles Kings. The TV station used a graphic Thursday that included logos of the Kings and New York Islanders.

The graphic also read: "ISLANDERS VS. KINGS."

To be fair, L.A. stations have confused their Kings with the NBA's version in Sacramento.

So maybe this says more about the NHL, that stations in the nation's two largest media markets, each with a team in the Finals, can't get it right.

■ STRIKING BACK - Umpires can be a touchy sort, widening the strike zone on hitters when they believe they have been shown up.

Laz Diaz might have found a unique way to get back at New York Yankees catcher Russell Martin after a dispute over balls and strikes Wednesday against the Los Angeles Angels.

Martin said Diaz, the home-plate umpire, wouldn't allow him to throw new balls back to his pitchers after fouls. The catcher told reporters that Diaz informed him it was "a privilege I had to earn."

Chicago White Sox announcer Ken Harrelson was chastised Thursday by commissioner Bud Selig for complaining about umpires on the air.

Harrelson, who noted, "They have got some guys in this league that have no business umpiring," has a point.

■ THIS JUST IN - Kordell Stewart retired.

Yes, we're all shocked. Because we thought he retired seven years ago.

But the artist formerly known as "Slash" when he played quarterback and other positions for the Pittsburgh Steelers never turned in his retirement papers to the NFL.

He wanted to tie up loose ends, signing a one-day contract to retire as a Steeler.

Pittsburgh is a tough town on quarterbacks, measuring each one against Terry Bradshaw and, in the future, Ben Roethlisberger. Stewart was vilified, and his decision is at once baffling and admirable.

"Stewart is a bigger man than me," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette columnist Ron Cook wrote. "I would have said the hell with Pittsburgh. I wouldn't have come back."

Maybe now Stewart will be seen differently in Pittsburgh.

COMPILED BY MARK ANDERSON
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL