The PORTLAND OREGONIAN reacts in hushed tones today to a report in the ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER that Oregon Coach Mike Bellotti is talking to UCLA open the school’s football coaching vacancy. The P-O notes that “Nobody at Oregon denied the interest is mutual.”

It’s only mutual in the sense that Bellotti knows that he can use the scenario to possibly extract more jack out of the Ducks. We can’t think of too many jobs Bellotti would leave Eugene for, and UCLA certainly isn’t on the list. The compensation at the school is embarrassing low and Westwood’s well-monied boosters won’t be dropping a boatload of cash on a football coach anytime soon - Bellotti included.

Then again, with the installation of mini-bar in Bellotti’s Rose Bowl suite, we might be talking a deal.

MIKE BELLOTTI’S BOOZE HOUND-WIFE’S PRESS BOX ATTACK The PORTLAND OREGONIAN’s John Canzano has the sad, pathetic news that he was attacked by the wife of Oregon Coach Mike Bellotti, Colleen, in a booze-fueled tirade.

Canzano recently columnized about the Bellotti’s son, Luke, who received two DUIS. In the height of irony, Mrs. Bellotti (accompanied by her children and nanny) responded to the piece by initiating a violent, alcohol-infused, “hissing” attack against Canzano in the Oregon press box during the Ducks-USC game last Saturday.Canzano reports, “I also told her I believe two DUIIs by an athlete, and coach’s son, are newsworthy to all media outlets, especially considering how her son’s double-secret suspension was treated by the same program that publicly suspended other athletes for alcohol-related offenses. I was disappointed in her approach. Particularly that there were 4-5 children present with her, including the youngest Bellotti son.

“She leaned in, grabbed by my suit lapel, and lit into me with a string of expletives. I told it was poor form that she would approach me in the press box, with a strong smell of alcohol on her breath, hissing and spitting mad, talking to me about alcohol abuse.”

Though there’s no excuse for two DUIs, and his dad’s mishandling of the situation, right now we feel really, really sorry for Luke Bellotti. We think being the son of a booze hound is far worse than being on fake scholarship.