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THE Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is another feel-good that, sigh, doesn’t feel nearly as good as it used to.

First, this year, despite a patriotic theme, Donald Trump used his muscle to eject traditional invitee Miss America from a float in favor of Miss Universe because he owns the Miss Universe pageant.

Next, there was a WWF float. Perhaps the little boys along the parade route grabbed their crotches, hollered “Suck it!” and stuck up their middle fingers, WWF style?

But back to Trump. If the LPGA weren’t desperate for money/sponsors, his can’t-help-himself arrogance would last week have again been a story worth knowing. But, for the most part, it remained closeted.

Trump and his new Trump International course in Florida – you thought he’d name it after anyone or anything other than himself? – hosted the LPGA’s TYCO/ADT Championship, the Top 30 LPGAers competing.

Convinced that his course would be too tough for players to shoot in the 60s, Trump was apparently miffed that Karrie Webb opened with a 67, Annika Sorenstam with a 68.

And so, according to Golf World magazine, Trump got to work – if snapping one’s fingers constitutes work. He unilaterally and immediately ordered the course superintendent to slick up and trick up the course, from triple-cutting the greens to the mowing of rough that had prevented balls from rolling into water hazards.

Astonished on-site LPGA officials were informed only after the self-serving deeds were done.

Consequently, what players learned about the course in their practice rounds and opening round, suddenly and surprisingly wasn’t the same course. It was kinda like showing up to play Game 2 of the World Series only to find that second base had been moved to the outfield because the home team’s owner felt that too many runs were being scored against his pitchers.

While both LPGA rules officials and players complained that the course, virtually overnight, had changed – a contrivance enacted to serve Trump’s ego – Trump no doubt was delighted that the scores on his “new” new course suddenly and dramatically rose. While the first round ended with six players in the 60s, the remaining three rounds found only four in the 60s – and nine in the 80s.

Trump also made sure that whatever spotlight the tournament shined on the LPGA’s best players, it would minimally be shared with him. He not only watched from inside the ropes, he watched from the middle of the fairways, walking with leaders Webb and Sorenstam.

But that’s par from Trump’s course. You might recall that the 1988 Mike Tyson-Michael Spinks bout in Atlantic City was promoted in an ad campaign that found both fighters exclaiming, “Thank you, Mr. Trump!” (After the fight, fans were expected to take a bath at one of his casinos, all of which named for him.)

Consistency, it is said, is the mark of greatness. And, over and over and over again, Trump proves that the only thing that separates him from ordinary jerks is money.

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Last week, after Barry Bonds was named NL MVP, ESPN, Fox Sports Net, CNN/SI, et. al., displayed clip after clip of Bonds standing near the batter’s box, admiring one of his 73 home runs.

But not once did we see the sight of Bonds, his team desperate for wins in the last days of the season, standing at home plate, admiring a drive to deep left-center that stayed in the park and eventually found Bonds standing at first instead of second or third.

I don’t care if Bonds had hit 93 homers, if he didn’t homer he consistently chose to minimize his team’s chances of winning. That the media at large chooses to ignore this indisputable fact is, I suppose, a matter of both taste and a sign of the times.

If Bonds, as a matter of choice (and, of course, style), had chosen to run to first base instead of posing near home plate, this season, his team, which finished two games out of the playoffs, almost certainly would’ve been in the playoffs. And his manager and his teammates know it.

But, more than ever, we’re reminded that MVP awards are individual awards.

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Nebraska-Colorado, Friday on ABC, passed the ultimate test. It was so mind-blowing that not even Brent Musburger could hurt it – no matter how hard he tried.

Early in the fourth, with Colorado up by 25, Musburger said, “This was one that the oddsmakers got so wrong, folks, that its unbelievable!” But the oddsmakers only posted an early line and the public, betting into it, established Nebraska as a 10-point favorite.

But that is Musburger. By now, I guess, it’s our fault for not hitting the mute button. And if Musburger new better than the oddsmakers and the public, why didn’t he tell us at kickoff?

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