Second thoughts

— Bacon bits sweet idea in theory

Even Texas Motor Speedway knows that everything is better with bacon.

The racetrack will offer bacon cotton candy at its concession stands during April’s Texas 500 weekend.

The track describes the treat as 4 ounces of bacon-infused cotton candy topped with candy-coated bits of bacon.

“What makes the ‘Hawg Heaven Bacon Cotton Candy’ a home run is that we use real bacon to infuse the flavor into the sugar,” Texas Motor Speedway Executive Chef Joel Pena said. “All the race fans love bacon.”

Here’s hoping the NASCAR race doesn’t have a heart-stopping finish.

Tall task

Former NBA great Bill Russell was misidentified at Monday’s presidential inauguration by ABC’sGeorge Stephanopoulos as actor Morgan Freeman.

It’s hard to blame the 5-6 Stephanopoulos since he’s never met the 6-9 Russell face-to-face.

Texas and taxes

Phil Mickelson is considering moving out of California because of high taxes.

“If you add up all the federal and you look at the disability and the unemployment and the Social Security and the state, my tax rate is 62, 63 percent,” Mickelson said. “So I’ve got to make some decisions on what I’m going to do.”

The four-time major champion said later Monday that he should have kept his opinions on taxes to himself, but Texas Gov. Rick Perry seems to be glad he didn’t.

Perry tweeted: “Hey Phil....Texas is home to liberty and low taxes ... we would love to have you as well!!” Marriage coach

French Open champion Li Na credits new coach Carlos Rodriguez with turning her tennis career around ... and saving her marriage.

Last August, the 30-year-old Chinese star hired Rodriguez, whocoached Justine Henin to seven major titles, after the conflicts with her previous coach - husband Jiang Shan - became too much to bear.

“The funny thing is, I think two years ago in China, someone said I was divorced,” Li said Monday after beating Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska 7-5, 6-3 to advance to the semifinals of the AustralianOpen against Maria Sharapova.

“Because they were thinking, we’re always shouting, maybe we’re divorced.”

“It’s just being coach and husband is - how you say - tough to find a balance!”

Now Li and Jiang have found marital peace again (fewer disagreements on or off the court) and she is winning again.

Quote of the day “He’s one of the smartest guys on

campus and a gym rat.

That’s a pretty good combination.” Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson on guard Kikko Haydar

Sports, Pages 18 on 01/23/2013

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