Popping corks in poor taste

The Los Angeles Angels paid tribute to pitcher Nick Adenhart on Monday night by gathering near a picture of their fallen teammate on the outfield wall at Angel Stadium after clinching the American League West Division championship.

Adenhart was killed in a car crash caused by an allegedly drunken driver April 9, hours after the 22-year-old pitcher made his season debut.

Adenhart's death brought added attention to the fight against drunken driving. Some called for the Angels to further the cause by banning alcohol at one game. But that never happened.

Players have kept Adenhart's memory alive by wearing patches with his No. 34, maintaining his locker at the stadium and taking his jersey on every trip.

The jersey was carried onto the field for Monday night's celebration, and it was ceremoniously doused with champagne and beer in the locker room.

A column in the Los Angeles Times defended the soaking: "They were celebrating with a friend, partying the way baseball players do.

"The Angels did nothing wrong. They did it exactly right. They celebrated as they grieved ... ."

And, sadly, they marked the occasion by perpetuating the worn-out locker-room tradition of celebrating with an overindulgence of alcohol.

• T.O. BLAMES PRESS -- A day after his streak of 185 games with at least one reception ended in the Buffalo Bills' 27-7 loss to the New Orleans Saints, diva wide receiver Terrell Owens told Sporting News Radio's "Two Live Stews" on Monday that reporters in the postgame news conference were trying to bait him into stirring up controversy.

Owens gave terse answers in the news conference and deflected some questions about his lack of involvement in the Bills' offense.

"Just going with the plays that are called ... . Whether I like them or don't, I'm just going with the plays that are called," he said.

Owens, in his first season with Buffalo, wore out his welcome in Philadelphia and Dallas when his publicity-making ability overshadowed his play-making skills. He used Monday's radio appearance to blame the press.

"It really just shows you the angle that the media has taken all these years," Owens said. "I know the last two teams that I've been on, I felt like I left those teams prematurely due to media interviews that I've done and things kind of taken out of context."

Owens skipped news conferences after the first two games this season and perhaps would have been better served by continuing that streak.

• HELMETS WANTED -- Houston fans lost their heads and three Cougars players lost their helmets after Saturday's 29-28 victory over visiting Texas Tech.

According to ESPN.com, Houston coach Kevin Sumlin sent out a message via Twitter on Monday asking for the headgear to be returned.

"Saturday night was fun, but it will be hard for 3 of our guys to play this week without their helmets. Please return, NO QUESTIONS ASKED."

He might want to check eBay.

COMPILED BY JEFF WOLF LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL