THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 22, 1994 TAG: 9407220674
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BOB MOLINARO
LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines
Laying down the law: By suspending and fining 35 players for leaving their positions, the bench and the bullpen during a fight between the Tides and Richmond Braves, the International League showed the major leagues how to handle a free-for-all. What will it take for the big league officials to see the light?
Shopping for pastry: Jeff Jones, or whoever it is making up the Virginia basketball schedule, must have received tips this year from John Thompson. The Cavaliers play non-conference games against North Carolina A&T, Towson State, Bethune-Cookman, George Mason and VMI. What's wrong? Was Hawaii-Hilo all booked up?
Ho hum: Tom Seaver wasn't the only one who didn't attend the New York Mets Old-Timers Day last Sunday. Only 24,885 turned out to see the Miracle Mets on their 25th anniversary appearance. Guess everybody's saving their money for the Woodstock 25th anniversary.
The way they were: Maybe the all-time greats from our childhood weren't as good as we remember. Then again, Barry Bonds, who turns 30 on Sunday, needs to average 40 home runs a year for the next 10 years to pass the home run total of his idol, Willie Mays.
A nation of watchers: The federal government report that Americans are, on average, nearly 8 pounds heavier than a decade ago seems to confirm consumer surveys that say 95 percent of all exercise videos sold are not used even once.
Warning, sarcasm ahead: Only one problem with TV's coverage of the O.J. Simpson case - not enough speculation.
Confession: Jim Kaat, ESPN analyst and former pitcher, admits he doctored the baseball every so often. ``I once told (an umpire), `It's not a foreign substance. It's made in North Carolina.' ''
New York state of mind: By allowing players, such as Cleveland's Albert Belle, to wait until their teams arrive in New York to begin serving suspensions, baseball helps the Yankees and Mets.
It's the rabbit talking: Tigers manager Sparky Andreson, on the livelier ball: ``Even when you're just holding the ball, you're hearing noises.''
A coming attraction: Actor Tommy Lee Jones, who is everywhere you look on the big screen, plays Ty Cobb in the movie ``Cobb,'' scheduled to open in December.
Mediocrity is king: The Colorado Rockies, in their sophomore year, went into Thursday's games with a better record than 13 other major league teams.
A racket: Before a mysterious ankle injury forced him out of the tennis tournament currently going on in Washington, D.C., Pete Sampras was guaranteed $250,000 just for showing up. Stefan Edberg reportedly has received $200,000 in appearance money for the same event.
Steady Hank: Although he's baseball's all-time home run hitter, Henry Aaron never hit as many as 50 in a single season.
Jumping the gun: Darryl Strawberry is off to a promising start with the Giants. But, in baseball, a dozen or so games does not represent a comeback.
Hard hat area: Baseball purists should hope that the Kingdome comes down tile by tile. We're talking a real dump.
Footloose: By auditioning as a kicker for the New York Jets, what kind of message is Tony Meola sending out? If soccer cannot hold the interest of the goalkeeper for the U.S. World Cup team, why should the rest of the country care?
In passing: Everybody wishes Michael Jordan would play winter ball. The real winter ball - hoops.
Add Mike: The tip-off that Jordan cannot make it as a baseball player are his woeful power stats. He's a 6-foot-6 outfielder who can't hit a home run. by CNB