Cheap Seats
Ryan’s hope
Boston Globe columnist Bob Ryan had this to say about the Celtics’ situation:
“I mean the following with all my heart and soul.
“The Boston Celtics should break precedent and attempt to hire Stanford’s Tara VanDerveer as their next coach. Oh, I forgot. The hapless owner doesn’t yet realize that he actually needs a new coach.”
A really good shoe at the White House
President Clinton checked out Michael Jordan from head to toe last week when MJ and his teammates hobnobbed with the Prez on the White House lawn.
The occasion was the Bulls’ long-overdue visit to the White House to honor their 1996 NBA championship.
Clinton had this to say about a man considered by many the greatest basketball player ever:
“I like your two-toned shoes.”
The black-suited Jordan laughed, swaying coolly on the heels of the black-and-white shoes that heralded a change of seasons.
“All well-bred young Southern boys learned to wear two-toned shoes in the springtime,” Clinton told Jordan. “I’m glad you kept up the tradition.”
We assume the shoes were black and the swooshes were white.
The Heidi Chronicle
Heidi Skolnik, nutrition consultant for the New York Mets, is teaching the players to think fresh fruit over frozen hot dogs.
Skolnik was one of several consultants hired by teams to beef up their training and spent some time with the Mets at their spring training site in Florida.
At the Expos’ camp, the table spread featured bagels, fresh fruits and soups for the players.
“I used to go to the camps and they weren’t really interested in what they were eating at all,” Skolnik said. “Now, I show up, and the guys are lined up to ask questions.”
Like how can Pete Harnisch put a little mustard on his meatball?
Svelte runners, beef up
The prize for the male and female winners of this year’s Semi-Ah-Moo Salmon Run will be their weight in salmon.
Big deal. Let’s see them offer the same prize to the winners of the Semi-Ah-Moo Powerlifting Contest.
Circling in on the problem
The Indianapolis 500, known for its rowdiness, is trying to change its image. And the Indianapolis 500 Festival is trying to keep up with the changes, scrapping the Mayor’s Breakfast for a more family friendly celebration.
“Start Your Engines” is a new program that will allow the public to drive laps around the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway for $10.
“Driving around the track in your vehicle will be a great tradition for families and race fans,” Al Smith, president of this year’s 500 Festival, said.
And this year, only one sobriety checkpoint will be set up.
The last word …
“I just want to know why guys the rest of the league thinks are crazy always wind up in Chicago.”
- New York Knicks Charles Oakley, on the signing of Brian Williams by the Bulls
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