THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 26, 1996 TAG: 9601260712
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Bob Molinaro
LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines
Local history: In an interview done 30 years ago, Minnesota Fats, who died last week, said that he hustled pool in Norfolk during World War II under the name Virginia Fats.
Memorable: After watching a TV match between two pool players in tuxedos, Minnesota Fats said, ``Putting a tuxedo on a pool player is like putting whipped cream on a hot dog.''
Pulling up roots: Even at two months, the CFL Pirates were in Norfolk one month longer than the World Football League's Virginia Ambassadors in 1974.
Architecture today: The praise that goes to new, oversized basketball and hockey arenas, like the one proposed for South Hampton Roads, doesn't take into account that about half the seats provide a poor view of the action.
Household name: The current Yankee player with the longest tenure in New York is Jim Leyritz, who debuted in pinstripes in 1990. By today's standards, he's a regular Pride of the Yankees.
Top choice: No knock on Joe Smith and Jerry Stackhouse, who are having fine seasons, but Toronto Raptors guard Damon Stoudamire is the clear leader in the race for NBA rookie of the year.
Comeback: A good running back in San Francisco will make new 49ers assistant Bill Walsh look much smarter.
Toughing it out: With or without Marcus Camby, no team plays harder than UMass.
Eye on hoops: Lip readers watch TV closeups of basketball coaches at their own peril.
Making the grade: The College Football Association Scholar-Athlete team features six ACC players out of 24. The Big East was shut out.
Discovery: Not until I recently saw Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan on TV did I realize that pro wrassling had its own seniors tour.
Quick hit: Most TV basketball play-by-play announcers talk too much.
Say what? Dennis Rodman is now referring to himself as ``the black (Bill) Laimbeer of the '90s,'' whatever that's supposed to mean.
Behind the times: California is where the new trends start, except when it comes to basketball arenas. The Great Western Forum, the newest NBA arena in the Golden State, opened in 1967.
Plugging the hole: Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers were the big winners when the club replaced shortstop Jose Offerman, who committed 83 errors in 345 games, with Greg Gagne, who has made 81 errors in the '90s.
Snow job: English ski jumper Eddie ``the Eagle'' Edwards is in training again, so prepare to laugh.
Healthy alternative: Playing championship tennis while carrying around a small spare tire makes Monica Seles a robust role model at a time when bulimia and anorexia are growing problems for young women. ``I've never been on a scale in my life,'' she says.
Rumor mill: Danny Ainge may be just biding his time on TV until Phoenix Suns owner Jerry Colangelo can name him coach in time for next season.
Too young, too bad: With the relative success of teenage Timberwolf Kevin Garnett, NBA teams are on the alert this year for two other hot shot high school seniors who may forgo college for the pros. by CNB