Totally Random: Baracklyn promotion in the bush leagues

Fans of the Brooklyn Cyclones might not be able to get a bailout, but they can benefit from the Class A baseball team's "Economic Stimulus Package.''

From Jan. 20 -- Inauguration Day -- until Jan. 23, the Cyclones will sell tickets for the upcoming season for $5 to $10, down from the regular prices of $8 to $15, the Mets' affiliate reports on its website.

Consistent with the current affairs theme, the team also will change its name on June 23-- Inauguration Tuesday of the 2009 New York/Penn League season -- to Baracklyn.

On that day, the first 1,000 fans through the turnstiles will receive bandages for their universal health care; all fans named Barack will be admitted for free; and fans named McCain or Palin will receive bleacher seats. Plumbers named Joe will receive two tickets.

Four tickets for THE Barack and his family have been reserved behind home plate.

The first 2,500 fans will receive Barack Obama bobblehead dolls.

And, upon leaving the stadium, all fans will receive American flags.

The Cyclones call it a "clear-cut exit strategy.''

Trivia time

Who was the last president to attend a baseball game in Brooklyn?

Charles Barkley benched

Charles Barkley's drunken driving arrest on New Year's Eve continues to cost him air time.

After taking a leave of absence from TNT's "Inside the NBA'' studio show, Barkley's commercials for T-Mobile have been pulled, AdAge reports.

"As he works through his personal matters, we will evaluate where to go from here,'' a company spokesman told AdAge.

Barkley appeared in a series of popular commercials with the Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade. Wade pleaded to be included among Barkley's "Fave 5" cell phone numbers, regretted it when Barkley wouldn't quit calling him with advice, then rejected Barkley's appeal to be one of his "Fave 5.''

Reconsider, Dwyane. Sounds like Chas needs a BFF.

Hoya means what?

John Thompson III, Georgetown's basketball coach, might want to quit listening to sports talk radio, especially when the one talking is his dad.

John Thompson Jr., the former Georgetown coach, recently told listeners of his show on Washington's WTEM that the Hoyas could cure their rebounding problems if they had some "thugs.''

As college basketball blog Rush the Court points out, Thompson, who was known for defending his players against such labeling, would have taken "umbrage'' if any media type had suggested when he was coaching that some college basketball players were thugs.

To his credit, JTIII, while acknowledging his team's rebounding deficiencies, said merely that the Hoyas need players "with a nose for the ball.''

Trivia answer

Dwight Eisenhower threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the opening game of the 1956 World Series at Ebbets Field.

And finally

David Letterman says: "Last week in the playoffs, Peyton Manning lost and this week Eli Manning lost. I'm telling you, the Manning brothers are starting to look like the Lehman Brothers.''

-- Randy Harvey

Photo: A 1960s-era photo shows Barack Obama swinging a baseball bat in Hawaii. Credit: Obama Presidential Campaign / Associated Press