Stadium finale is dirty business

The latest "dirt" out of Yankee Stadium has nothing to do with who Alex Rodriguez is seeing or who his soon-to-be ex-wife is dating.

This "dirt" is dirt.

Soon after reliever Mariano Rivera recorded the last out for the Yankees on Sunday night in the final game to be played in the venerable stadium, the New York closer was down on his knees collecting dirt from the mound.

Rivera's keepsake, however, will not be "Official Dirt," as declared by Major League Baseball.

Three "authenticators" were on hand to verify countless parts of the 85-year-old ballpark to prevent fraudulent memorabilia from getting on the market.

Buckets of dirt joined a long list of documented items, including the lineup card, balls, signs, rosin bags and bases, which were changed every half inning.

Infield dirt was shoveled into buckets that were then sealed under "official" status, according to Bloomberg News Service.

• WE'RE NO. 16! -- A list of "America's 100 most important sports venues" is topped by Yankee Stadium, according to Jim Caple of ESPN.com.

The only Nevada site on the list is Caesars Place, which checked in at No. 16.

"Because few spots so thoroughly combine America's twin love of sports and gambling than the casino where Muhammad Ali, Evander Holyfield and Sugar Ray Leonard all boxed, and where millions more have gambled billions on games," Caple wrote of Caesars.

Coming in ahead of Caesars are the headquarters for Nike (8) and ESPN (10).

"This is a list of America's 100 most important sports venues," he wrote. "And by that I mean the venues that have had a profound influence on the way American sports are played or have enjoyed multiple historic moments or, better yet, have had both."

Surprisingly, no Las Vegas strip clubs made the list.

• QB CONNECTS -- Rutgers quarterback Mike Teel made two regretful throws near the end of the Scarlet Knights' 23-21 loss to Navy on Saturday in Annapolis, Md.

After a Navy field goal gave the sailors-to-be the lead, Teel's first errant throw resulted in an interception that sealed Rutgers' third loss in as many games.

His next throw was a punch to teammate Glen Lee as Teel was leaving the field. Lee, a sophomore reserve defensive back, reportedly was trying to "encourage (Teel) to keep his head up," when the quarterback punched him, Sportsline.com reported.

"I know what Glen was trying to do," Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said. "He was trying to tell Mike that we don't hang our heads. Glen's intent was great. It was just taken the wrong way."

The coach said he will not suspend the quarterback. He shouldn't.

After all, it's one of the few times this year Teel has hit his intended target.

COMPILED BY JEFF WOLF REVIEW-JOURNAL