THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, April 12, 1995 TAG: 9504120595
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Bob Molinaro
LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
Headed south: The selling off of Expos stars is no reason to feel sorry for Montreal, a bad baseball city undeserving of a team. Playing in Olympic Stadium this year will be the future franchise of Northern Virginia.
Go north: If better public relations is one of the goals of major league baseball, teams should take advantage of the late spring training and move workouts and exhibitions to big league stadiums, where more fans can watch.
In passing: Jerry Tarkanian coming back into college coaching is like a suspect returning to the scene of the crime.
The Boss' best: There are those who believe that the well-stocked New York Yankees are better than the Reggie Jackson-Thurman Munson-Catfish Hunter teams.
Small-market blues: Says Pittsburgh Pirates manager Jim Leyland, ``People ask me why we didn't sign David Cone. Heck, we can't even afford an ice cream cone.''
Swamp things: In honor of the NCAA basketball championship being decided next year in East Rutherford, N.J., the name of the tournament has been changed to ``Turnpike to the Final Four.''
Spin doctors: If a team belonging to Bobby Knight, Mike Krzyzewski, Dean Smith, or even Eddie Sutton or John Chaney ever found a way to win the national title game with its point guard and catalyst sidelined by injury, the media would insist that this coaching Houdini be immediately immortalized in stained glass. But when the feat is accomplished by a colorless journeyman not in great favor with the press, the coach's supreme accomplishment gets lost in the shuffle. Too bad for UCLA's Jim Harrick. He deserves better.
Could take more time: Despite his 55-point highlight reel in New York, Michael Jordan struggles to find his form. In two recent games against Cleveland, he shot 18 of 53. ``I'm not sure when to pass and when to shoot,'' he says. ``When I take my shot, the rhythm isn't there.''
Too soon to tell: The Chicago Bulls will have to show me a little more before I believe them to be a major factor in the playoffs.
All that Jazz: If Utah's Karl Malone receives a lot of support for most valuable player in the NBA, nobody will complain.
Doesn't sit well: It's doubtful former Old Dominion star Chris Gatling, now with the Golden State Warriors, is a big fan of the NBA's expanded box scores, which include injuries. After a recent game, Gatling was listed as DNP (inflammed hemorrhoids).
Why ask why? Apparently, 36-year-old Thomas Hearns decided to get back in the ring again after it was discovered that he was still in possession of four or five brain cells that haven't been damaged yet.
More lunacy: Major league umpires were locked out by the baseball owners after asking for a mere 53 percent pay hike. The world is a crazy place. Why should sports be any different?
Losing out: Season ticket holders may not care that the Redskins will play no exhibitions in RFK Stadium this summer, but it's a loss to less fortunate fans who look to the preseason as their only opportunity to witness the Deadskins live.
Business as usual: Not that teenage basketball players would ever be exploited by promoters and recruiting gurus - heaven forbid - but last time anybody counted, there were 11 national high school all-star games scheduled for April. by CNB