Cheap Seats
Would have been a good bet
Denver Broncos center Tom Nalen wasn’t offended by the 11-1/2-point spread in the Super Bowl:
“I don’t really care. It’s not like I’m putting money on it - although I am from Boston College.”
What’s one more fool?
Baseball owners have no problem accepting $500 million annually from Rupert Murdoch’s national and regional television contracts. But they are getting increasingly leery about letting the Fox mogul in their henhouse.
San Diego Padres’ owner John Moores told newspapers in San Diego and Los Angeles last week that he is “inclined to vote against” Murdoch’s proposed $311 million purchase of the Dodgers, Dodger Stadium and related properties.
Moores became the first to publicly voice private concerns several owners reportedly share: That Murdoch (reported net worth of $3.9 billion) will further inflate baseball’s spiraling salary structure.
Murdoch spokesman Vince Wladika said owners should not accuse Murdoch of renegade tendencies.
“I mean, if you’re talking about running salaries up, I think the owners have done a good enough job of that without our help,” Wladika said.
On that point, Moores agreed.
“We have owners who run their other businesses in a very responsible manner, but whose brains turn to mush when it comes to baseball,” he said. “Rupert Murdoch? He may be the devil incarnate or the greatest thing since sliced bread. We just don’t know.”
No comment
St. Louis Cardinals’ manager Tony La Russa made an ill-fated guarantee of a repeat N.L. Central title a year ago at the St. Louis baseball writers dinner. At this year’s dinner, following 1997’s fourth-place finish, La Russa concluded his remarks by putting a piece of tape over his mouth.
Holy cow! He can’t be serious
The Chicago Cubs completed their makeover with the signing of former Giants closer Rod Beck, who joins Wrigley Field newcomers Jeff Blauser, Mickey Morandini and Henry Rodriguez. That’s four former All-Stars added to the team that tied Philadelphia for the N.L.’s worst record last season (68-94).
“I think there’s a legitimate chance to win here,” Beck said. “The Cubs were only one player away and, hopefully, I can be that one player.”
Babe Ruth could not be that one player.
We hear Bill throws a great curve
Boston Red Sox general manager Dan Duquette told of how he was trying to close the deal for pitcher Pedro Martinez while in the same New York hotel in which President Clinton was staying. Members of the Secret Service were trying to sweep his floor for bombs because the president was staying one floor below.
“One Secret Service agent sees me and says, ‘Who is this guy who thinks he’s more important than the president?”’ Duquette said. “The other agent, who was from New England, said, ‘He’s trying to sign Pedro Martinez. As far as I’m concerned, the president can wait.”’
The last word …
“How long now has baseball been searching for a commissioner? Five years? David Selznick didn’t take nearly so long to find someone to play Scarlett O’Hara, a much more important role.”
- Blackie Sherrod, Dallas Morning News
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo