Setting New Standards For ‘Most Improved’

Here’s hoping losing really does build character. If so, we’ve found an English youth soccer team full of characters. The Redhall Rangers attracted nationwide publicity after losing their first three games by a combined score of 69-0. They went on to lose their next 10, but showed signs of improvement by limiting opponents to just 13 goals per game - while scoring four times themselves.

Now the Rangers appear to be on a roll, having done the unthinkable. They pulled off a 7-3 upset of the Skerne Park Tigers.

One problem: It was only an exhibition.

But are you going to tell them it doesn’t count?

Boxers that shop together, flop together

Looks like the Mike Tyson-George Foreman fight is a long shot, what with arch-enemy promoters Don King (Tyson) and Bob Arum (Foreman) involved.

Instead, fans may be stuck with Tyson-Oliver McCall. King promotes McCall, the former Tyson sparring partner who hit the jackpot against Lennox Lewis, and recently defended his WBC belt against Larry Holmes.

Last week in Las Vegas, McCall and Tyson went on a shopping spree in an expensive men’s store. “We shopped until we dropped,” McCall said. “We spent about $100,000. It was Don’s idea. I couldn’t refuse.

“As a matter of fact, he paid for it. That’s why we spent so much.”

In shopping for opponents, McCall said he and Tyson agree that ex-champ Riddick Bowe would be a bargain.

“We both came up with the same conclusion,” McCall said. “He’s a big, tall, fat bum now. Of all the guys in the heavyweight division, even including Lennox Lewis, Riddick Bowe looks the worst.

“He’s declined, as far as his skills go, more than anyone in the top 10 of the division.”

At least Riddick had skills to start with, Ollie.

A shot in the dark

Matt Berlin was one ball away from bowling a perfect game Wednesday night when the lights went out at Marcel’s Pinarama Bowl in Oswego, N.Y.

No sweat. Berlin waited 50 minutes during the power failure, then decided to go for his 12th consecutive strike in near darkness. The 200-average bowler was going out of town Thursday, and couldn’t wait any longer.

“He positioned anywhere from six to 10 guys with flashlights where he wanted them,” said Dana Hollister, manager at Marcel’s. “When he delivered, all the flashlights swung toward the pins. But once it left his hand, there was no doubt - slam!” A 300 game. Less than a minute later, the lights came on. Hollister believes it was a case of divine intervention.

“It couldn’t have happened any other way,” Hollister said. “He had to be watching.”

And we always thought He was a golfer, not a bowler.

The last word …

“How many jobs were lost because $5 million wasn’t enough, Jack? How much was lost in the South Florida economy, $100 million?” - Enraged baseball fan, yelling at Yankees pitcher Jack McDowell at the team’s Fort Lauderdale camp