Cheap Seats
Hit ‘em where he is
When you’re 42 games out of first place, you can go crazy. So Twins manager Tom Kelly gave right fielder Kirby Puckett the versatility test recently against the Angels - playing him at second base, third and shortstop almost 27 years to the day after another Twin, Cesar Tovar, played all nine positions in one game.
“You can play anywhere,” Puckett reasoned, “as long as balls don’t come to you.”
Caray him off to retirement
The Japanese community in Chicago can’t be too wild about Harry Caray these days. Before a recent Cubs-Dodgers game in which Hideo Nomo pitched, WGN radio aired a tape of Caray saying to Cubs manager Jim Riggleman, “Well, my eyes are slanty enough, how ‘bout yours?”
The comment by the 80-year-old broadcaster flustered Riggleman, who quickly changed the subject. But amazingly, the comment wasn’t edited, though the interview was taped 45 minutes before it aired.
WGN has apologized, but Bill Yoshino of Chicago’s Japanese American Citizens League is pushing for Caray to say he’s sorry, as well.
“For him to refuse to apologize shows either a total lack of understanding on his part or the fact he simply doesn’t want to confront this situation,” Yoshino said. “But given the responses he’s issued, it’s pretty clear he doesn’t feel he’s done anything wrong.”
Caray has acknowledged he is embarrassed by the criticism. “Anybody who knows me, even my detractors, will tell you I love everybody,” he said.
WGN general manager Dan Fabian noted that there has been virtually no feedback and “that’s very odd. The read is, people really do understand the guy didn’t have any attempt to harm.”
Apparently, it’s not only OK for Harry to slur his words, but also to use his words as slurs.
She, the jury
Tonya Harding is being called for jury duty by the Multnomah County court in Oregon, where she was convicted of obstruction of justice a year and a half ago in the attack on skating rival Nancy Kerrigan.
The conviction would not make her ineligible to serve. However, she has bought a house outside the county, which could prevent it.
Our advice to any prospective defendants: plea bargain.
This just in
Here’s a verbatim excerpt from the Red Sox’s advance scouting report on the Orioles’ Cal Ripken Jr.: “Looks like he needs a day off.”
Not now, it’s catching
Notable factoid in the year of the Ironman: Maybe it’s a by-product of Ripken breaking Lou Gehrig’s record for consecutive games played, but 10 players besides You Know Who have played in every game this season. That’s twice as many as have done it during any year of Ripken’s streak.
The last word …
“Ki-Jana Carter should look on the bright side. He is the favorite for the 1996 Comeback Player of the Year.”
- Michael Ventre, Los Angeles Daily News
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo