Cheap Seats

The No Wives Club

George Steinbrenner has taken on the lovely ladies of Texas.

Upset that Texas Rangers wives were standing and cheering in a luxury suite during Game 1 of the A.L. playoffs at Yankee Stadium, the Boss had them kicked out the suite and made them sit in the stands for Game 2.

“They were standing and yelling and screaming for Texas,” Steinbrenner was quoted as saying in the New York Post. “Now rooting for Texas isn’t what I had a problem with. They were blocking people’s view. I asked the guy whose box it is to have them sit down, and one of them wouldn’t sit down.”

Neither would David Cone’s fastball, especially in the fourth inning against Juan Gonzalez and Dean Palmer.

But was it a strike?

Dodgers pitcher Hideo Nomo, who has had a sometimes testy relationship with Japanese media, threw a ball toward a Tokyo Broadcast Systems camera crew during a postseason-game workout.

According to Dodgers spokesman Jay Lucas, “The crew was in an off-limits area, shooting through the bullpen gates. He asked them to move, twice, they didn’t move.

“He tossed a ball toward the crew harmlessly, with no intent to hurt anyone. When the ball bounced over (the fence) to them, they moved out of the area they were not supposed to be in. From what I heard, they weren’t upset.”

However, members of the Japanese media told USA Today that Nomo clearly was annoyed, and his intent was not light-hearted. Koji Sasada of the broadcast crew told USA Today no grievance will be filed.

Nonetheless, Albert Belle’s agent issued a three-page apology.

Volumes and volumes of useless information

Dennis Rodman’s book, “Bad As I Wanna Be”, is doing so well its publisher is planning two more tomes with the Chicago Bulls player.

“Rodman Rules,” is the tentative title of the second book, due out in May. The book will be Rodman’s “guide to living.”

Then, in time for Christmas 1997, will come another book which will include “never before published” full-color photos of Rodman.

Campaign jingle

With the New Orleans Saints beginning the season 0-4, Saints coach Jim Mora is once again getting the brunt of the criticism.

Joe Gilmartin of the Arizona Republic writes, “This being election season, disgruntled fans have reworked a presidential campaign slogan, chanting, ‘No Mora years! No Mora years!’ “

Paul is dead, Paul is dead

Reserve forward Alan Prampin of the Kansas City Wiz also plays in a band. Occasionally, he finds a way to combine his music with his soccer.

“After we’ve recorded the music, if you play it backwards you can hear (coach) Ron Newman yelling at me,” Prampin said.

“And then you can hear me saying ‘Play me more. Play me more.’ “

The last word …

“The newlyweds are right now on their honeymoon and they were looking for a quiet, secluded place. And I know this is stupid and I know it’s too late, but if they’re looking for a quiet, secluded place, what about either end zone at Giants Stadium?”

- David Letterman on the Kennedy marriage

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo