When Philadelphia 76ers coach Maurice Cheeks needed someone to warm up his car last winter, he turned to Thaddeus Young.

And when it came time to load the luggage, someone had to do it. But it wasn't going to be veterans Andre Iguodala or Samuel Dalembert. So Young, the fresh-faced rookie from Georgia Tech, dutifully loaded bags on to planes and buses all winter.

“I didn't really have any problems with it,” Young told The Associated Press. “But when you hit those cold, cold, cold cities, that's the problem. . . . You're out there freezing, trying to get bags in.”

This year, Young won't find himself playing bellhop – he's a lot more likely to be the 76ers' starting small forward.

With two-time All-Star Elton Brand now with the Sixers, Young has returned to his natural position.

Young will, however, be a rookie just a little longer.

“He hasn't played his 83rd game yet,” Iguodala said.

That means until the 76ers tip off against Toronto on Oct. 29 in their season opener, when Young could haul luggage one more time.

TRIVIA TIME

Where did Washington Redskins coach Jim Zorn attend college?

WILD THING

The Minnesota Wild are welcoming a new member to their team.

Nordy, their first mascot, looks a little like a bear and a little like a fox, but the Wild won't say exactly what kind of animal he is. They call him a hybrid of several wild animals.

Nordy wears the number 18,001 and sports a mullet with a green “M” on his forehead.

According to his official “biography,” Nordy was born in Eveleth, Minn., and cut his teeth on the ponds and lakes throughout the Iron Range. Fans will see Nordy at home games and various community events. He'll also make hospital visits.

“DUTCH” TREAT

World Series rings and other sports memorabilia were snatched up by fans who dug deep into their pockets during an auction Sunday featuring items from the estate of former Cincinnati Reds and Bengals owner Austin “Dutch” Knowlton.

Auctioneer Jay Karp told The Cincinnati Enquirer that bidders went “berserk” for baseball items, including Knowlton's four Reds World Series rings. The 1975 ring went for $5,000, and the 1976 ring brought in $7,500.

The auction also offered items autographed by famed Ohio State football coach Woody Hayes and former Reds stars Ken Griffey and Pete Rose.

The six-hour event drew bidders from as far away as England, and brought in more than $500,000, thanks to high prices fetched by artwork and furniture.

Knowlton died in 2003 at age 93.

PARTING SHOT

From Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle:

“If I'm ever under investigation for a serious crime, I want to be investigated by either the NBA or the International Gymnastics Federation.”

TRIVIA ANSWER

Zorn attended Cal Poly Pomona.

– COMPILED BY HANK WESCH FROM NEWS SERVICES, ONLINE REPORTS