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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Cheap Seats

Sampras by a nose

Today’s Wimbledon quarterfinal match between Pete Sampras and Boris Becker is tennis’ equivalent of a heavyweight boxing match.

Maybe that’s what led a reporter to ask Sampras, “Are you going to bite off Becker’s ear?”

“No,” Sampras said. “I’m going for the nose tomorrow.”

Now, if he could only rally the Redskins

Gus Frerotte apparently is as concerned with unemployment statistics as he is with his completion percentage.

Frerotte, the Washington Redskins starting quarterback and a native of Ford City in northwestern Pennsylvania, spoke in his hometown and urged residents to keep their chins up as they try to rally from economic troubles.

“This is the game plan,” Frerotte said as he waved a copy of Ford City’s economic revitalization plan. “We’re a team. Everyone stick together, and we’re going to be all right. It’s all about teamwork and being the best you can be.”

Or in his case, being better than Heath Shuler allowed Frerotte to turn a mega profit.

Have a nice day, Royals fans

Ushers at Kansas City Royals Kauffman Stadium are taking classes on “conflict resolution.”

Ticket-takers are studying the fine points of ticket-taking etiquette. Parking lot attendants are learning the right way to tell people they have to move their car. (You say, “We”; not “I.”) It’s all aimed at making Royals games fun and fulfilling; win or lose, a happy experience.

The Royals are taking a cue from the Cleveland Indians and employing George Phillips, a former Ohio highway patrolman who conducts training classes for stadium employees on how to deal with fans.

Stadium workers, ranging from teenagers holding summer jobs to retirees in their 70s trying to supplement their pension, have been meeting with Phillips.

Among the conflict-resolution addressed: spotting a smoker in a no-smoking area.

“Instead of saying, ‘I can’t let you do that,’ you say ‘Excuse me, are you aware of the Royals smoking policy?”’ explained Johnny Johnson, the Royals director of operations.

“Instead of making it a big issue, you say, ‘Sir, here’s our policy. Could you please put your cigarette out?’

“Then you move on instead of forcing conflict. Nine times out of 10, they’re going to put it out.

And the 10th guy will use the usher’s hand as an ashtray.

Back, back, back to the minors

The Baltimore Orioles’ Dave Dellucci didn’t seem to mind that he had just been sent back to the minor leagues. All he wanted was to find a TV set.

“I want to see if they show the catch,” he said to reporters gathering to hear what he thought about being demoted.

ESPN was showing the plays of the week and, sure enough, Dellucci’s diving catch against Toronto made the show. It was the first time Dellucci had seen it.

The last word …

“I’ve got 35 lines. I don’t know what it’s about, but I hope I have some (love) scenes.”

- New Jersey Nets forward Jayson WIlliams, describing his role in a movie, “The Last Prophet.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo