By BOB MATTHEWS
Rochester (N.Y.) Democrat and Chronicle

Does anyone really think playing the made-for-TV "Battle at the Bridges" July 28 on Phil Mickelson's home course will give him a big edge over Tiger Woods?

Woods and Ernie Els will take on Mickelson and Sergio Garcia, and by now we're pretty sure that Woods could top Mickelson in any format in Phil's backyard.

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Don't be shocked if recently-signed retread Kenny Rogers wins as many games this season for the Minnesota Twins as the more heralded Tom Glavine wins for the New York Mets.

Both are finesse left-handers who rely heavily on strong defensive support. Rogers is joining the best defensive team in the majors last season (the Twins had only 74 errors) and Glavine is on the worst (144 errors).

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Pitcher David Wells agreed to a $100,000 fine by the New York Yankees for supposedly tarnishing the team's image in his new autobiography, but he'll more than make that up in sales of the controversial book, helped immensely by the free publicity it has received in spring training.

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The world's highest-paid athlete reportedly could be facing a hefty pay cut after the 2004 season but don't feel too sorry for five-time Formula One world driving champion Michael Schumacher. If Ferrari really does cut his annual salary by $10 million, he'd probably be able to get by on $30 million a year.

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Most NHL observers think Toronto improved the most (added Owen Nolan, Doug Gilmour, Phil Housley and Glen Wesley) in the league's recent record trading spree. The Maple Leafs certainly have the experience to make a strong run for the Stanley Cup, the prize that has eluded them since 1967. Montreal has since won the Cup 10 times and eight teams that weren't even in existence 35 years ago have won it at least once (Calgary, Colorado, Dallas, Edmonton, New Jersey, New York Islanders, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh).

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This week's Four-Star Trivia question: Responding to this week's death of Andrei Kivilev, professional cycling is considering making the use of protective headgear mandatory. What was the first Major League Baseball team to require its players to wear batting helmets?

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There never has been an NBA Most Valuable Player who went directly from high school to the NBA (three-time NBA MVP Moses Malone went from high school to the ABA) but three of the probable top four finishers for this season's NBA MVP skipped college (Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant and Tracy McGrady).

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This week's Four-Star Trivia answer: Branch Rickey ordered his Pittsburgh Pirates to wear batting helmets in 1953. They became mandatory in the National League in 1955 and in the American League in 1956.

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Cheers to this week's most underrated sports heroes: the eight Norwegian huskies (starring lead dogs Blue and Takk) who pulled musher Robert Sorlie to victory in the 31st running of the Alaskan Iditarod Sled Dog Race. Sorlie won $68,571 and a Dodge diesel truck. The dogs presumably got a nice victory meal and a good night's sleep.

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Walter Ray Williams Jr. last week became the first touring pro bowler to top $400,000 in Tour earnings in a season. And he doesn't even have to worry about paying for beer frames on the PBA Tour.