A SIDEWAYS GLANCE : NHL HAS PLANS TO EXTERMINATE MIAMI RODENTS.

The NHL plans to play the part of the Pied Piper next season when it tries to rid Miami Arena of rodents, in particular the plastic rats thrown by Panthers fans after goals.

Not unexpectedly, the league's general managers have agreed to enforce a rule prohibiting fans from throwing objects onto the ice. That means no more rats in Miami, ducks in Anaheim, octopuses in Detroit or garbage in Boston.

The reason: Such antics delay the game.

The penalty: Public-address announcers will be instructed by referees to warn fans if objects are thrown onto the ice. If fans persist, referees can assess a two-minute delay-of-game penalty against the home team, giving the opposing team a power play opportunity.

Call them the Davidson Broncos

When 6-foot-5, 290-pound Broderick Thompson rides along U.S. Highway 85 from Denver to Greeley, Colo., he gets strange looks.

Thompson is one of seven Denver Broncos players - five weigh at least 280 pounds - who own Harley-Davidson motorcycles, which are so popular that many are sold before they're made.

``We've gotten some strange looks from people,'' Thompson said. ``People see us and think it's this new steroid gang.''

Not all the motorcycle owners are as big as Thompson. Wide receiver Anthony Miller is only 5-11, 190.

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Photo: No Caption (Grant Fuhr)