Ward ready to tackle Hollywood

Hines Ward left a lasting legacy during his 14-year NFL career as a physical receiver and charismatic star for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Ward is set to bring some of that charisma to the big screen.

Ward, who retired from the NFL in March, will make a cameo appearance as a football player for the Gotham Rogues in the upcoming Batman epic, "The Dark Knight Rises."

Ward is featured briefly in a trailer for the film and even has an action figure for his character that will hit stores in November, according to USA Today.

It remains to be seen if Ward can join such Hollywood fixtures as Jim Brown and Carl Weathers, who made smooth transitions from the gridiron.

Ward could inspire other athletes to audition for superhero films, though.

Rumor has it that Dwight Howard was considered for a part in the 2013 Superman reboot, "Man of Steel," but the Orlando Magic center turned down a role after he couldn't get director Zack Snyder fired from the set.

■ INSERT CARD NOW - Making repeated trips to an ATM in search of cash can become a tired routine.

Nets forward DeShawn Stevenson doesn't have that problem. Stevenson recently posted an Instagram photo of himself standing in his kitchen - next to his very own ATM.

It would seem a stroke of brilliance for Stevenson, who can conveniently hit up the machine before leaving for nightclubs in Brooklyn, the team's new home.

Stevenson is considered a reliable defender, but his offensive game sagged to new lows in 2011-12 as he shot 28.5 percent from the field.

Maybe Stevenson can hire a Brink's truck driver who can provide pointers on his jump shot while refilling the ATM.

■ CLUTCH ROOKIE - Reds third baseman Todd Frazier doubled, tripled and drove in two runs in Cincinnati's 8-1 victory at Pittsburgh on Tuesday, but it wasn't the rookie's most impressive feat.

That would be saving a man's life by using the Heimlich maneuver hours before the game. Frazier was having lunch with teammate and former UNLV and Durango High star Ryan Ludwick when he reportedly noticed a man choking on a piece of steak.

Frazier sprung into action and helped save the man, whose name was not released.

Former Las Vegas High and College of Southern Nevada phenom Bryce Harper is among the favorites to win National League Rookie of the Year, but perhaps Frazier can gain a few votes with more selfless acts of heroism.

■ DEATH THREATS - Leftovers treated readers Wednesday to the story of Peoria (Ill.) Manual High junior offensive tackle Logan Tuley-Tillman, who tweeted a photo of himself burning an Ohio State recruiting envelope that arrived well after he had committed to Michigan.

Yahoo! Sports reported that Tuley-Tillman has received death threats from Ohio State fans since he tweeted the photo.

There are only three certainties in the life of a new-age diehard college sports fan: death, taxes and, of course, anonymously tweeting death threats to teenagers who decide to attend a rival school.

COMPILED BY TRISTAN AIRD
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL