THE WRITING ON (AND OFF) THE WALL; FISHER, REPLAY: NICE MATCH.

Byline: Steve Dilbeck

Is Jeff Fisher living right, or what?

The Titans' mustachioed boy wonder looks blessed by the NFL gods, or at least those in charge of replay rulings.

First, officials don't overrule that controversial miracle kickoff return in their playoff opener. Then, when he challenges Sunday's late kickoff return by the Colts, officials rule in his favor.

There are no bonus points awarded on how you advance -- and it appeared the officials got it right Sunday. It's all about staying alive. But really, how far can a tough defense take you? At this time of the year, all the way to the Super Bowl.

Fisher, the former Taft High star, might find his Houston-Memphis- Nashville-Tennessee Titans-Oilers underdogs against Jacksonville in the AFC title game.

But the Titans knocked off Jacksonville in both meetings this year, and they didn't need any blessed intervention from the NFL heavens to pull it off.

--All those who have been doubting the Rams (OK, our hand's up), better start figuring how to play nice to Georgia. Or at least how to pretend to.

Good to know some of those millions picked up in the St. Louis heist have gone back into the team. Not that we're still bitter.

--62-7: numbers that defy comment.

--The really frightening news about Jimmy Johnson's retirement: It could mean he returns to the broadcast booth.

--So England decides to overlook its law that would have prevented Mike Tyson from entering the country because of his rape conviction, and allow him to fight Julius Francis there.

The man who heads the department overseeing law enforcement, Home Secretary Jack Straw -- as in "house of" -- stepped in and permitted the Jan. 29 fight to go on, citing special circumstances: the millions that would be lost if the sellout fight was scrapped.

It's so reassuring to know we are not the only ones capable of selling out for the all-American dollar, or all-British pound.

--USC's dominating basketball victory over UCLA was more impressive than its ugly football victory over the Bruins. But nothing was as ugly as the Bruins' newest road basketball uniforms.

--The Mets are making it difficult to keep up with the (Bobby) Joneses in baseball. After their trade Friday with the Rockies, the Mets have left- hander Bobby Jones and right-hander Bobby Jones. Bobby Jones, the former Sixer, is mulling a late career move.

--Michael Jordan and the hapless Washington Wizards, only a slightly less stunning merger than AOL and Time-Warner. The Wizards play in the MCI Center, which just happens to be one of the companies Jordan regularly hawks on our air waves. Think this means Bugs Bunny can be had under the cap?

--We're all for the U.S. women's soccer team getting its financial due, but you have to think it didn't help the players' boycotting cause when the "B" team easily took the Australian Cup.

--Pretty impressive, 66-year-old Ray York becoming the first jockey to ride in seven decades after he finished next to last in the final race on Thursday at Santa Anita.

But York has nothing on Encino's Ernie Van Leeuwen, scheduled to run his third consecutive Los Angeles Marathon and sixth overall on March 6. He's 88.

--Come on, seriously now, 62-7?

--Isn't it just swell of Tiger Woods to bypass the Hawaiian Open and next week's Bob Hope at Indian Wells. Lets all of golf's little people have a chance.

--Madonna bails on the Super Bowl pregame show, saying she won't have time to prepare. Hey, she has an ex-beau who is an entertainer and not doing much these days.

--Whew, and we were worried that Lakers' losing streak would last forever.

--Is it just us, or doesn't embattled Atlanta Braves closer John Rocker's "I am not a racist" recall President Nixon's "I am not a crook."

Note to Rocker: No one believed the tricky one, either.

--The maiden season for the Los Angeles Avengers of the Arena Football League is threatened over a labor dispute. And Al Davis doesn't even want $500 million for territorial rights.

--If the Staples Center was any quieter, it would be Bill Stoneman.

CAPTION(S):

cartoon

Cartoon: Incredible! Folks look quickly to your right, and you will see the rarest sight in L.A. ... On game night, it's an open parking space, and it's within ten blocks of Staples Center.

Jim Thompson