Cheap Seats

On second thought

In observing the first anniversary of the Atlanta Olympics, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has taken a daily look back at the Games.

From the “I didn’t really mean it” department came this quote from British rower Steven Redgrave, who retired after having won gold medals in four consecutive Olympics: “If you see me anywhere near a boat, shoot me.”

Better not. Redgrave is now training for the Sydney Games in 2000.

When Lou talks, Junior zones

Ken Griffey Jr., was asked what he thought about Lou Piniella’s inspirational speech prior to a recent game against Milwaukee.

“I don’t know, I wasn’t listening,” Griffey said.

Griffey the malcontent?

“Nah, before a game I’m in my own world,” he said. “I been in meetings since I got here - Lefebvre meetings, Plummer meetings, pitchers meetings, spring meetings. I ain’t heard anything yet. I sit here, but I’m off somewhere else.

“My attitude is simple. Play hard, get some sleep, come back and play hard.”

And collect paychecks from third-rate front office.

They never used to call

The unlisted phone number issued four months ago to Bernadette Foyle of Vancouver, British Columbia, was the Vancouver Canucks’ number for 25 years until the team moved its offices in 1995. But it was no problem until last week when Mark Messier signed. (After all, the Canucks missed the playoffs.)

“Since Messier signed, the calls have been crazy,” said Foyle, adding that they begin as early as 5 a.m., some of them from Japan.

“I’m not a hockey fan,” Foyle said. “I should phone the Canucks and have them give me a ticket after all this.”

If she uses a 1994 phone book, she’ll never get through.

Spit out the Pitt

Things have changed a bit since Oval Jaynes resigned as athletic director at the University of Pittsburgh.

Jaynes, now the A.D. at Idaho, left behind a trail of five consecutive losing football seasons. New A.D. Steve Pederson hopes to polish the Panthers’ tarnished image and is starting with the name.

The athletic department will no longer refer to itself by the commonly used nickname of Pitt. Athletic department employees have been directed by Pederson to refer to the school as Pittsburgh or the University of Pittsburgh, a change reflected in the school’s new logo.

No word yet on whether the identity crisis will induce a change in stadium names. Pitt Stadium has been the site of home football games since the 1920s.

What might prove more difficult is convincing fans and alumni to go along with the change, as the school has been commonly known as Pitt on almost all references for decades.

Fair-weather fans prefer a slightly longer name: The Pitts.

The last word …

“God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. No. 7 is symbolic of my comeback.”

- Minnesota Vikings quarterback Randall Cunningham on why he is now wearing No. 7.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo