Cheap Seats
Somebody step on a duck?
California’s top horse-racing official engaged in a “drunken” harangue at a recent industry convention, according to letters from other state officials to Gov. Wilson asking that he rein in the racing official.
Witnesses said California Horse Racing Board Chairman Ralph Scurfield heckled the incoming chairman of the Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI) last month.
Scurfield allegedly acted intoxicated, shouted crude remarks and was abusive toward incoming ARCI chairman Michael Kendrick during Kendrick’s speech at the convention. Scurfield was seated at a front-row table during Kendrick’s remarks. Kendrick’s wife, twin teenage daughters and son were seated nearby, and one of the girls was reportedly reduced to tears.
“At one point Kendrick turned during his speech to Scurfield and said, ‘Ralph, am I interrupting you?”’ said Larry Eliason, a South Dakota racing commissioner and former police officer. “Scurfield replied: ‘You ain’t interrupting nothing, baby!”’
Don’t call him; he’ll call you
The Colorado Avalanche, who crossed the border this season after 16 seasons in Quebec, received a congratulatory phone call from President Clinton on Wednesday for winning the Stanley Cup.
Avalanche goalie Patrick Roy was quick to suck up to the First Fan, commending Clinton on his notorious golf game. “On behalf of my teammates we heard you finally broke 80 on the golf course and we just wanted to congratulate you,” Roy said.
The phone call came just before the team began a victory parade in downtown Denver. Coach Marc Crawford thanked the president for calling, wishing him luck in the November election. “I’d like to have a sweep like you did,” Clinton said.
The president called the Avalanche’s win “a great thing for Denver and the state of Colorado,” and invited the team to the White House.
Playoff MVP Joe Sakic, in turn, invited Clinton to Denver to watch the Avalanche next season. “It’s nice to have a hockey fan in the White House,” Sakic said.
Going for that classy Wal-Mart look
Former Pittsburgh linebacker Kevin Greene has surfaced with the Carolina Panthers, and he’s sporting a new look. The long locks are no more.
“Two months ago, I went by Wal-Mart and got some scissors, sat the wife down and said, ‘It’s time,”’ Greene said.
His new look is a short ‘do, although he kept an 8-inch rattail that hangs down the middle of his back. , He’s already in wrestling shape
William “The Refrigerator” Perry has left the London Monarchs of the World League and may try his hand at pro wrestling. The former Chicago Bears star confirmed he has held talks with World Championship Wrestling and the rival World Wrestling Federation.
One report said Perry, who last weighed in at about 420 pounds, might make his wrestling debut Sunday in Baltimore.
The last word …
“Wouldn’t it be great if they only showed Clinton-Dole on closed-circuit TV?”
- Michael Ventre, Los Angeles Daily News columnist
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