‘Uh, Coach, I’M Not With Your Team Now’
OAKLAND — As I write this from the press box at the World Series, I don’t have much time to elaborate. You never know when Jose Canseco may decide to go after another fly ball.
And now, this week’s picks . . .
REDS’ CLOWNING LEAVES ATHLETICS MOURNING
OAKLAND, Calif. — First the circus, then the funeral. That’s the way this World Series will be remembered, all those Cincinnati Reds circling the bases in the third inning Friday night like so many clowns on unicycles. One. Two. Three. Five. Seven. Seven...
MAYBE BLINDFOLDED IS BEST WAY TO WATCH JOSE
OAKLAND — “Good morning, audience, and welcome to ‘What’s My Sports Line?’, the fabulous game show where fabulous celebrities try to guess the identity of our fabulous Mystery Guest! Panelists, if your blindfolds are in place, shall we...
ROSE IS OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF BASEBALL’S MIND
CINCINNATI — The Reds’ locker room was stuffed with reporters. Ron Oester sat by his locker, watching the fuss. He sipped a postgame beer. “This,” he said, nodding, “is what it was like when Pete first got in trouble.”He shook his...
Reds’ Rain Of Rocks Gets A’S Attention
CINCINNATI — This has always been the way to beat Goliath: Take a stone and aim right for the forehead. Go for the brain. Hit him where he thinks. Two years ago, Kirk Gibson hobbled to the plate in the bottom of the ninth and sent a Dennis Eckersley pitch into the seats. It was the first game, but it won the World Series for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Not because it, by itself, was such a devastating blow. But because it stirred the brain cells. It made the Athletics, heavy favorites, feel vulnerable. They lost three of the next four; they went home scratching their heads.
IT’S A’S IN SIX – AND IN A DOGGONE STRANGE WAY
You want to know how the World Series turns? You’ve come to the right place . . . GAME 1: Controversy erupts before the first pitch is thrown when Reds owner Marge Schott demands her entire team wear dog ears during the national anthem. “You’ll look...
’20/20′ GAFFE ISN’T O-TAY WITH SPANKY
Whenever I get a spare moment, I try to think deep and meaningful thoughts, such as what is life, who invented the split pea, and, of course, whatever happened to Buckwheat?
I thought I had the answer to the last one recently, when the ABC-TV show
“20/20,” aired a segment claiming to have found Buckwheat, a former star of the Little Rascals comedies. According to the show, Buckwheat was working as a grocery bagger in Tempe, Ariz.
TRUE OR FALSE? A MULTIPLE-GUESS QUIZ
The NFL season is now one-third over, and it’s time to see whether you’ve been paying attention. Ready for a pop quiz?1. True or false: All NFL teams now get a week off.a. True. b. False.c. True, except for Minnesota, which is taking the entire season...
Clemens, Cooney Spoil It For Everyone
OAKLAND, Calif. — All Terry Cooney has to do is go out to the mound, lean into Roger Clemens’ ear and whisper, “Young man, you say that one more time, and I’m throwing you out of the game.”
He does that, he gets no arguments this morning. He does that, he looks smart and mature and patient, which is how umpires are supposed to look, right? As opposed to looking like a baby without his bottle.
NOTHING CAN STOP THESE RUNAWAY A’S
OAKLAND, Calif. — It was one of those beautiful California afternoons where you want to lean back, close your eyes and soak in the sun. And so you can’t blame Terry Steinbach for momentarily falling asleep at third base. By the time he woke up, however,...Stay Connected
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