THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 21, 1995 TAG: 9504210691
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BOB MOLINARO
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
Why not? If the U.S. Olympic Committee wants America to care about its next Dream Team, it could do worse than to see that an invitation goes out to Magic Johnson. At the very least, he would be an antidote to the strutting vulgarians who will make up most of the team.
The next stop: Expecting someone as soft-spoken and sincere as Joe Montana to adjust to TV's circus world is like asking Alistair Cooke to wear a clown's nose.
Idle thought: Maybe I missed it, but I don't recall anyone mourning Bo Jackson's retirement from sports.
A familiar name: Former U.S. World Cup goalie Tony Meola is playing for the Long Island Rough Riders in a different division of the same soccer league as our Hampton Roads Mariners. And all this time I thought he was working as Tony Danza's stunt double.
Looking back fondly: Knicks coach Pat Riley says of the soon-to-be-abandoned Boston Garden, ``Why not create a museum out of it.'' I thought that's what it was.
Double-threat: The rebuilding of the Los Angeles Lakers into an interesting, potentially dangerous team shows that general manager Jerry West is as good behind a desk as he was on the court.
Knickknacks: If Charles Oakley can round into top form, the New York Knickerbockers are my pick to represent the East in the NBA Finals.
Half-court blues: In close games, the Orlando Magic can't go to Shaquille O'Neal because of his poor free-throw shooting. This disrupts the offense, and makes the Magic more vulnerable in the playoffs.
The latest line: One NBA general manager says of Arkansas' Corliss Williamson: ``He's strong, but he doesn't have a game. To me, he's Anthony Mason without a jump shot or the ball-handling skills.''
Whatever happened . . . To world-class American marathoners. The top American man at the Boston Marathon finished 29th.
Media favorite: If Oriole hopeful Andy Van Slyke was as adept at hitting line drives as he is at delivering one-liners, he'd be headed for the Hall of Fame.
Playing the game: Considering U.Va.'s exalted image of itself as an academic oasis, does it bother University grads when the Cavaliers romance a very tall, talented prep basketball player who hasn't yet cut the mustard on the SATs?
BYWho? Duke beat out Brigham Young for the services of 6-foot-10 basketball prospect Matt Christensen of Belmont, Mass. Only one problem for the Blue Devils. Christensen, a Mormon, will play a season in Durham before leaving on a two-year mission.
Net loss: Just when you thought women's tennis couldn't get any more irrelevant, Steffi Graf takes off four weeks to rest her back.
Baseball's worst buy: The definition of chutzpah is on display at a souvenir shop in West Palm Beach, Fla., where the Montreal Expos are selling uniform jerseys worn by replacement players for $100 apiece.
Chillin': Charlotte Hornets center Alonzo Mourning, who had 40 technical fouls and seven ejections his first two years as a pro, has seven T's and no ejections this season.
In passing: I'd feel better about our country if all the fans who clamor for new stadiums and arenas for their pro teams showed the same interest in getting raises for teachers.
Making some noise: Improved play, including a series of double-doubles, by 7-foot-6 project Shawn Bradley makes you wonder if his recent performance is an aberration or an overdue glimpse of the future. by CNB