THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 12, 1996 TAG: 9607120621
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Bob Molinaro
LENGTH: 68 lines
On second thought: Prior to the debacle between China and the U.S. Olympic men's basketball team in Phoenix, the squads exchanged gifts. The Chinese gave the Americans watches, while Team USA presented the visitors with T-shirts. From the looks of the game, the Dream Teamers should have given the Chinese an instructional video.
Idle thought: One billion Chinese. You'd think one could hit a jump shot.
In passing: I won't believe it's the Centennial Olympics until I hear Willard Scott wish the Summer Games a happy birthday.
Mere numbers: Statistics don't tell the whole story. A recent study reports that baseball injures more Americans per 1,000 (13.5) than football (12.5). But football injuries, especially to the knees, are more likely to stay with a person for life.
Name game: Politics aside, headline writers must be thrilled that Boris Yeltsin beat out Gennadi Zyuganov in the Russian election.
Jurisprudence: What I want to know is, when will Mark Furhman's name be dragged into the Michael Irvin trial?
Net loss: With Stefan Edberg retiring this year, the Swedish line of tennis royalty that started with Bjorn Borg has come to an end.
Five-finger discount: Wimbledon officials report that players took about 2,000 towels from the locker rooms as souvenirs, not counting the one Andre Agassi threw in.
Cupcake City: Times have changed at the University of Maryland, which once took pride in playing a rugged non-conference football schedule. This season, the Terps open with home games against Northern Illinois and Alabama-Birmingham. Apparently, Randolph-Macon Woman's College had no room on its schedule.
Starting at the top: The guys at the Foot Locker will be happy to hear that some preseason football rags rank Florida State No. 1.
Needs help: If asked, Virginia running back Tiki Barber probably would tell you he'd trade the upcoming Heisman hype for a better line and more seasoned quarterback.
Not so hot: Bobby Bonds' punk attitude must be why so many of his endorsement opportunities go to Ken Griffey Jr.
Snooze time: The baseball All-Star game was an insomniac's best friend.
Power surge: By rough count, at the midway point in the season, at least 27 players in the American and National Leagues are on pace for 40 or more home runs. But the ball isn't juiced. Of course not.
The one to catch: The sluggers chasing Roger Maris already are lagging behind. Halfway through the 1961 season, Rajah had hit 33 of his 61 home runs.
Long ball: The 1927 New York Yankees of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig averaged 1.02 home runs per game, but the 1996 Oakland Athletics - quick, name an A's player other than Mark McGwire - are bashing 1.55 a game.
Double standard: What does it tell us about the male jock mentality when two Clemson football players are permanently suspended for allegedly selling marijuana, while four other players remain on the team even after being accused of rape? by CNB