Cheap Seats

His head’s still not in the game

As part of a series of events commemorating the closing of Detroit’s Tiger Stadium, the home team brought in the fabled Bird, Mark Fidrych.

The former rookie of the year, whose career was compromised by arm problems, is now 44. He noted that he doesn’t watch many games unless “I’m at a friend’s house and they’re on TV.

“If you asked me who is first and by how many games, I couldn’t tell you, but then I couldn’t tell you when I was playing, either.”

Real men don’t dress as Trojans

Charles O’Bannon, who considered USC before opting for UCLA and an eventual NCAA men’s basketball championship, began his film career Thursday when shooting started on “Love and Basketball,” in which he plays the roommate and Trojans teammate of lead actor Omar Epps.

It is either a big break, since O’Bannon has been considering acting for some time, or a major stretch and tremendous test of his theatrical skills.

“Not too many people know,” O’Bannon said of his role. “But the people I’ve told, they can’t believe it. I look at the uniform I’ll be wearing and I can’t imagine wearing those colors for real. Eccchhhh.

“(Older brother) Ed just threw his arms out at me in disbelief, like, `I can’t believe you’re doing this.’ He was giving me a hard time. He’s happy for me and everything, but also like he can’t believe it.”

Shorts, only if the caddie pants

The PGA Tour has revisited an issue in the wake of a medical emergency and, in a break from tradition, will permit caddies to wear khaki shorts on extremely hot days.

But for now, it is being called a test period with the new look. A short-term study.

Cutting the caddies some slacks will be allowed when the heat index, the gauge of temperature and humidity, breaks 100. The decision comes only weeks after a 51-year-old caddie collapsed and his heart stopped during the third round of the Western Open in Lemont, Ill., though the exact cause of the incident was not disclosed.

Life in the lesser leagues

While coaching an all-star team of 9- and 10-year-olds on July 13, former Boston Red Sox outfielder Mike Greenwell, who lives in Florida, was thrown out of a game by volunteer umpire Steve Ward for the second time this year.

No other coach has been ejected in more than 400 county and all-star tournament games during the past two months in the league.

Hey, David, watch for his left

Late in the fifth round of Friday night’s fight in Atlantic City, N.J., trainer Al Mitchell was shouting instructions to super welterweight David Reid.

Reid responded by turning and waving his arm to dismiss the advice.

Reid’s opponent, Australian Kevin Kelly, then dropped the World Boxing Association champion with a looping left hook - only the third knockdown in Reid’s 13-fight pro career. Reid eventually won a 12-round decision and retained his title, just not all his dignity.

Said Mitchell: “He’s got to improve his listening skills.”

The last word …

“I won’t make the Top 30. I think a lot of myself, but I’m not stupid.”

- Hall of Fame outfielder Reggie Jackson, a Top 100 nominee, on his chances of being elected to the final All-Century baseball team.