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

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Riled up

It’s still not a good idea to invite Knicks president Dave Checketts and Heat coach Pat Riley to dinner.

Riley recently suggested his old team should “show some guts” and reward coach Jeff Van Gundy for his loyalty to the organization. After seeing Riley walk out on his Knicks contract, Checketts was flabbergasted.

“Pat talking about loyalty, now that’s a change for you,” Checketts said. “Isn’t that a funny line? Here is Pat Riley talking about loyalty. Well, wait a minute. Finish your contract. It’s a little bit like asking Nick Van Exel to comment on self-control.”

More Checketts: “I believe we have a franchise that is the envy of the other franchises because we play in a terrific city and a legendary arena. The Minnesota Timberwolves are never going to be the New York Knicks, and neither will the Miami Heat.”

Today’s gratuitous shot at Greg Norman …

… Comes from fellow choker Scott Hoch, who isn’t in the least bitter about the flood of support for the Master gagger. Hoch’s just bitter he didn’t get the same treatment eight years ago, when he blew a short putt in a playoff with Nick Faldo.

“I had one shot that cost me,” whined Hoch. “He had one day.”

Huge galleries cheered Norman’s every move in last weekend’s MCI Classic. Hoch, on the other hand, has become largely just another face on the PGA Tour, except when a list of great golf chokes is compiled.

“Part of it was the feeling that we were (Americans) soft,” theorized Hoch. “They were using me as an avenue for problems U.S. players had for years.

“The words associated with me were a lot more harsh and more personal. Nobody cares about me. Here, this has been like a coming-out party for Greg.”

Why the difference? Hoch points to media coverage - especially from CBS.

“That’s Greg’s network,” charged Hoch.

Sure it is. The Chokers Broadcasting System.

That’s a lovely dress, Mrs. Cleaver

Vincent Askew can really shift it into Eddie Haskell mode when he has to. The Sonics swingman skirmished with San Antonio’s Will Perdue recently, was ejected and then found himself facing a fine and/or suspension from NBA Vice President Rod Thorn.

The two talked for 40 minutes, but the main topic wound up being Magic Johnson’s referee bump.

“He brought it up,” Askew said. “So I kept talking about it, trying to keep him off (the subject) of me.”

Askew escaped punishment.

Sprockets a la Spago

So much for the Breakfast of Champions. Hollywood’s trendy Spago restaurant is donating two chefs to aid the U.S. Cycling Team during the Summer Olympics.

“I like to cook, but I knew I wasn’t going to be cooking for them,” coach Chris Carmichael said.

Cycling’s collaboration with chef Wolfgang Puck began in 1988, when Spago bankrolled a pro team.

“It’ll be fresh ingredients, the best ingredients in the country,” said Spago manager Tom Kaplan.

We’ll have the Wheaties with vanilla lobster sauce.

McDonald’s unhappy meal

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Ben McDonald considers fish “good energy food.” When he pitched for Louisiana State, he was known for eating sardines between starts. But in the minor leagues he was forced to end that practice.

“The smell was so outrageous, it was killing my roommate,” he said. “Now I eat fish (only) in restaurants.”

The last word …

“I took a walk around there for exercise the other day. It’s beautiful, except that it’s not very pretty.”

- Baseball broadcaster Jerry Coleman, on the brown water of Lake Michigan

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo