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

Cheap Seats

Even if he had the dough, O.J.’s not welcome

Shadow Creek, one of the most exclusive golf courses in the world and until now played by only the highest of high rollers at the Mirage Resort’s casinos in Las Vegas, is going public.

It will cost $1,000 for a starting time, which includes a suite at one of the Mirage hotels. For $500 more, a guest may come along, but there will be no more than two players for each tee time.

The best news, a caddie is included at no extra charge.

The worst news, the caddies demand 20 percent tips.

Hope they don’t start calling him ‘Prozac Pete’

Mets pitcher Pete Harnisch, who hasn’t pitched since Opening Day because of depression, began a 30-day injury rehabilitation assignment last week with the Mets’ entry in the rookie-level Gulf Coast League.

“I’m anxious to get back into game competition,” Harnisch said. “It’s been a long time and, honestly, there were times when I wondered if I would ever make it back. (Depression) has obviously been tough to deal with. You don’t treat it like an injury. But I’m feeling much better, a lot more like my old self.”

But for Pete’s sake, don’t let him look at the National League standings.

Here’s one way to gain yards

Simplicity Manufacturing Co. is selling a line of lawn tractors painted in NFL and college team colors, with stripes down the middle, team logos on the sides and matching facemasks across the grills.

The idea started in the company’s home base town of Port Washington, Wisc., and was the mastermind of Simplicity President Tom Fruechtel’s 9-year-old son. The tyke suggested making a tractor to honor Green Bay Packers defensive end Reggie White.

Spokeswoman Jan Peiffer said even though Fruechtel told his son that, “Reggie White was too big for a tractor,” the original “Packer Backer Tractor” was born.

The idea was a success, so the company expanded the line to nine NFL teams and six college teams.

NFL teams available are the Carolina Panthers, Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers.

College teams available are the Iowa Hawkeyes, Michigan State Spartans, Michigan Wolverines, Penn State Nittany Lions, Tennessee Volunteers and Wisconsin Badgers.

And the company is working on a Boston College Eagles tractor that cuts, rather than, shaves.

Is his head size as big as Norman’s?

Steve Abernathy has bruised ribs, a couple of bumps on his head and broken prescription sunglasses, but he also has Greg Norman’s trademark hat, which the Aussie golfer sailed into the crowd after winning a tournament in Memphis.

“When I saw him take it off, I knew he was going to throw it,” the 6-foot-4 Abernathy said. “It wasn’t coming straight at me, and there seemed like 100 hands reaching for it.”

Abernathy got his hands on it, then fell to the ground and held onto the hat as if it were a football until the other grasping hands let go.

The last word …

“It’s not that he’s that great a hitter. He’s just hot all the time.”

- Rockies manager Don Baylor on Larry Walker

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo