Baseball Quiz: 1) Name the eight who played in 3,000 or more
games. [Hint: 6 of the 8 are in the Hall of Fame. One other will
be and one is a primo dirtball.] 2) Among active pitchers with at
least 100 wins, name the only two with a winning percentage of
.665 or better. [Hint: Roger Clemens, if you considered him still
active, is at .662.] Answers below.
Sam Snead’s Special Year
I was reading one of my golf publications the other day and a
comment about the legendary Snead and his performance at the
Los Angeles Open in 1974 got me scouring the archives of the
New York Times. Snead was born on May 27, 1912, so in Feb.
‘74, he was 61. I want you to picture current 61-year-old Hale
Irwin, who is still competitive on today’s Champions Tour,
playing with the younger guys as you ponder some of Snead’s
achievements that year.
Snead won the last of his 84 PGA Tour titles at the age of 52 by
taking the Greensboro Open in 1965. Why was Snead still
playing nine years later? He said he just loved the competition
and the money. So on Feb. 17, 1974, Snead, in what was then
called the Glen Campbell Los Angeles Open, lost by a mere two
strokes…two strokes!…to Dave Stockton. Snead shot 73-68-66-
71 and shared the lead going into the final round with Stockton,
Tom Weiskopf and John Mahaffey at 207. Tom Watson and
Johnny Miller were at 208 and Jack Nicklaus was in at 210 thru
three. To me that’s remarkable.
Later that same year, at Greensboro in April, Snead went 69-70-
71-69 and finished 9 off the lead.
Then in Aug. ’74, now age 62, Snead finished just three behind
Lee Trevino at the PGA Championship at Tanglewood CC,
Clemmons, North Carolina. Amazing.
But Snead wasn’t finished. Fast-forward to 1979. In July of that
year, now 67, Slamin’ Sammy shot his age in the second round
of the Quad Cities Open, and then had a 66 in the final one,
finishing 3-under for the tournament. [D.A. Weibring won at
minus 14.]
Two weeks later, Sam Snead made the cut by two strokes at the
PGA Championship at Oakland Hills, an event eventually won
by David Graham.
And just a few other items I noticed in going through the 1974
archives. Johnny Miller started off the year winning the first
three tournaments. For you younger golf fans out there, no one
dominated in the desert like he did in the early 70s. Back to
Snead, he was ahead of his time in so many ways. At Doral, the
Times has this tidbit:
“Sam Snead, whose straw hat is a trademark, said golfers would
profit by wearing hats because they shade the eyes ‘and make
them last a bit longer.’”
Let alone help prevent skin cancer. Oh, don’t some of us of a
certain generation or two wish we had followed this advice. I
was reading a piece in Newsweek today concerning Australia,
which has the highest skin cancer rates in the world, and
schoolchildren there are not allowed outside to play unless they
are wearing a hat.
Stuff
–Scandal! No, not the Dave Clark Five’s omission from the
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, but Fred Dicker of the New York
Post uncovered the fact that the famed Saratoga Springs spas are
“secretly mixing standard chlorinated drinking water into pure –
and supposedly health-promoting – natural mineral-spring
baths.”
“ ‘They’re lying to the public. It’s the state committing fraud,’
said Raymond Watkin, a former Saratoga Springs mayor.”
Over 14,000 customers a year pay $20 “for what are officially
described as ‘natural mineral water’ baths,” but because the state
hasn’t repaired “costly, broken-down, mineral-water heaters that
had been used since the park opened in the early 1930s,” the state
“secretly mixed heated Saratoga Springs chlorinated public
drinking water with the naturally cold, highly carbonated mineral
waters that come from more than 1,000 feet below ground,
interviews and records show.”
The day after the Post ran its story, New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer
demanded notices be posted disclosing that the world is full of
suckers and millions are born every day. [Actually, the governor
ordered that notices disclose that the supposedly pure “natural
mineral spring baths” are actually adulterated with tap water.]
–Herodotus had the following to say of The Battle of
Thermopylae (5th century BC):
“The Medes, having met so rough a reception, withdrew from the
fight; and their place was taken by the band of Persians under
Hydarnes, whom the king called his ‘Immortals’; they, it was
thought, would soon finish the business. Things went much as
before – the two armies fighting in a narrow space, and the
barbarians using shorter spears than the Greeks, and having no
advantage from their numbers. The Spartans at their approach
would wheel round and face their pursuers, in this way
destroying vast numbers of the enemy.
“During these assaults, it is said that Xerxes, who was watching
the battle, thrice leaped from the throne on which he sat, in terror
for his army. Next day the combat was renewed, but with no
better success on the part of the barbarians.” [Chris Ayres, John
Carr / London Times]
–My brother and I are very bummed that the series “Rome” is
ending, it being just too expensive to produce. But what a last
season it’s been. [We’re also big time fans of Cleopatra, which
doesn’t make us bad people.]
–Murray Chass / New York Times:
“This may be perceived as an unpleasant job, but somebody has
to do it: the deconstruction or demythologizing of the former
commissioner Bowie Kuhn.
“In the aftermath of Kuhn’s death last Thursday, much has been
attributed to him, and he has said much in televised file
interviews, that is simply far off base in relation to reality.
“The most accurate, candid assessment of Kuhn comes from
Andrew Zimbalist, a sports economist at Smith College and
author of several books on baseball…
“ ‘He never did anything enlightening; he never did anything that
anticipated the future,’ Zimbalist said of Kuhn on Sunday…
“In an earlier interview with The Boston Globe, Zimbalist said,
‘I think Bowie established a pattern of antagonism and acrimony
and distrust between the owners and players in the 1970s that
took baseball 25-plus years to work through.’”
Yes, let’s face it. Bowie Kuhn was absolutely awful. As Chass
notes:
“Kuhn continued to rail against free agency, saying it would
destroy the game, but the economic growth that some have
attributed to his leadership actually began with the advent of free
agency.
“Major League Baseball set attendance records the first three
years after free agency began after the 1976 season; attendance
rose nearly 40%.
“Some obituaries credited Kuhn with growth through expansion,
but only two of the majors’ 14 expansion teams came into
existence during his tenure. Four teams began life in his first
year, but they were obviously born before Kuhn became the
commissioner.
“Some obituaries cited the escalation of player salaries during his
tenure, but they rose in spite of him, not because of him.”
Yet once again, even Chass’ piece fails to bring up the worst of
the Kuhn years…the freakin’ designated hitter for just one
league!
–Next April marks the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson
integrating the game of baseball (I’ll have a lot to say on this in a
few weeks), and as Harvey Araton of the New York Times notes,
it’s sad that there are fewer blacks in today’s game than there
have been in decades, about 8.5% of major league rosters.
–Assuming he follows through on it, Barry Zito could be in the
running for a Bar Chat “Good Guy Award” as he is planning on
spending some of his $126 million contract with the Giants on
building youth baseball fields in the Bay Area. Hall of Famer
Joe Morgan has heretofore been a leader in trying to promote
baseball in the inner cities.
–Follow-up to my story the other day on what men’s Division I
college basketball coaches earn. USA Today breaks down what
the Sweet 16 coaches can make in bonuses for advancing in the
NCAA tournament.
Ohio State’s Thad Motta, aside from earning the previously
discussed one-year extension, could earn $100,000 if they win
the national title. That’s the same as Bill Self of Kansas and
John Calipari of Memphis. Bruce Pearl of Tennessee would pick
up a $150,000 bonus for winning the championship. Most
receive about $25,000 for advancing to the Final Four.
–Jeff S., aka The Shu, wrote in from Laveen, AZ (a suburb of
Phoenix…I had to look this up) regarding the Wall Street
Journal’s piece on coaching trees and some of today’s active
mentors. As Shu writes:
“In the 50-year anniversary of one of the greatest Final Fours of
all time, the triple overtime games of the 32-0 North Carolina
Tar Heels, it would be remiss to leave out coach Frank McGuire
in any discussion of this kind. Two of his players at St. John’s
were Lou Carnesecca and Al McGuire. He then mentored Dean
Smith, who would become Frank’s assistant in Chapel Hill.”
[McGuire even taught Bobby Cremins the game.]
And how special was that ’57 Final Four? How about a triple-
overtime semifinal; North Carolina 74, Michigan St. 70. Plus
another triple overtime contest in the championship game; North
Carolina 54, Kansas 53. [Wilt Chamberlain was the MVP of the
event for the losers.]
But get this. Smith was a guest of McGuire’s at that historic
Final Four, sleeping on a cot in his room, even though he was
rooting for Wilt and the Jayhawks. Thanks for the note, Jeff.
[Jeff also recommends the book “The Best Game Ever” by Adam
Lucas, a tale of the ’57 finals.]
–Boise State is looking for someone willing to fork over $10
million. If you have that kind of spare change lying around, in
return you can get your name on Bronco Stadium! Contact Curt
Apsey, senior associate athletics director.
–As if it’s not bad enough having to watch Barry Bonds this
season, now we’ll be forced to keep track of Sammy Sosa and his
return to the game with Texas. He’s just 12 shy of 600. Drat!
–“Rabid cheetah bites BBC presenter”
Good gawd. While filming in Kenya, Simon King, the man
responsible for the ‘Big Cat Diary’ programs, was filming the
story of an orphaned cheetah cub “when a female ran at him,
leaping up at his body. Both he and assistant Stephen Nangunye
were bitten and scratched during the attack but were not badly
hurt.”
“The attack was unprecedented – cheetahs just don’t do this,”
said King, who was treated for rabies. The cheetah died of the
disease. No doubt Mr. King and his assistant will have
nightmares the rest of their lives and will be in and out of rehab
as they seek drink and drugs to alleviate their painful memories.
Personally, when I go out to get the morning paper and see a
cheetah in the driveway, from here on I’ll remember this story
and take extra precautions; as in making sure I always carry my
Swiss Army Knife, deluxe edition, with the mini-saw.
–Give Syracuse fans credit. 27,000 showed up at the Carrier
Dome to watch the Orange defeat San Diego State in a mere NIT
game. It was the 750th career triumph for coach Jim Boeheim.
–The Wall Street Journal had another story on the rapid decline
in music sales, a reflection of which is the fact that when Chris
Daughtry’s album hit No. 1 recently, it sold all of 65,000 copies
that week. Normally, the No. 1 record is selling 500,000-
600,000 in that time period.
–Uma Thurman is back on the market after ending a three-year
relationship with some jerk hotelier. So for those of you guys
who have pined for her….now’s your opportunity. But act
quickly. A woman like Uma doesn’t come around very often,
know what I’m sayin’?
–And now….your EXCLUSIVE “For Better or For Worse”
update. As predicted last chat, the “Party of the Century” started
right on time, Wednesday, and already we have some serious
issues to deal with. Recall that April is back home, babysitting,
with her main squeeze Jeremy heading over shortly. As Jeff B.
noticed in the final panel on Tuesday, April is clearly having a
bad trip and his initial suggestion that she undergo mandatory
drug testing appears to have been bang on. I suggested a new
series. “CSI: FBOW”
But on Wednesday, Liz, who purged to get down to a size 4,
again per in-house expert J.B., has arrived at Michael’s book
party with Warren and Warren, upon seeing some of Weed’s
photos of gorgeous models, muses to himself “Whoa! Ask him
to bag a couple for ME!”
Now Jeff was livid upon reading this, but I had to remind him,
“Hey, you and I would be thinking the same thing so cut Warren
some slack.” Jeff responded, “Well, yes, but that’s beside the
point. Chopper Boy has already established himself to be a
manipulative [dirtball] and now Liz is hooked up with this pig.”
Jeff wants to double-down on our bet that Liz leaves the party, in
tears, but with Pitiful Wimp Anthony. But I’m already at risk
$10 and in light of the rapidly unfolding credit crunch unable to
get another home equity loan to hike the wager to $20. [Then
again, I could just forego two six-packs.]
Lastly, Jeff B. has another ground-breaking prediction. Dr.
Patterson will be caught doing Jell-o shots with the Party Wench,
Rebecca, who I still say ends up with Michael, thus breaking up
his marriage to Deanna. Rebecca will then take Mike’s $25,000
book advance, spend it on blow, and toot it all up her nose. Stay
tuned.
–Luther Ingram, died. He had the #3 Billboard pop hit “(If
Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want To Be Right” back in 1972.
Ingram was 69. [I have another book that says he was just 62.
I’m so confused.]
Top 3 songs for the week of 3/23/68: #1 “(Sittin’ On) The Dock
Of The Bay” (Otis Redding) #2 “Love Is Blue” (Paul Mauriat
….this is what I love about the 60s…a tune like this being
popular right alongside The Beatles or The Doors) #3 “(Theme
From) Valley Of The Dolls” (Dionne Warwick…geez, she was
good)…and…#4 “Simon Says” (1910 Fruitgum Co.) #5 “Just
Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)”
(The First Edition…with Kenny Rogers…far out, man) #6 “La-
La-Means I Love You” (The Delfonics) #7 “Valleri” (The
Monkees) #8 “(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You’ve Been Gone”
(Aretha Franklin) #9 “I Thank You” (Sam & Dave) #10 “The
Ballad Of Bonnie And Clyde” (Georgie Fame)
Baseball Quiz Answers:
1) Games played –
Pete Rose…3562…..Booooooo Booooooooooo
Carl Yastrzemski…3308…how many of you remember Big Yaz
Bread? [Oh yeah, that was nutritious….NOT!]
Hank Aaron…3298
Rickey Henderson…3081
Ty Cobb…3034
Stan Musial…3026
Eddie Murray…3026
Cal Ripken Jr. …3001
Willie Mays…2992
Dave Winfield…2973
Rusty Staub…2951…Le Grande Orange!!!!
2) Active pitchers with winning percentage of .665 or better, 100
wins: Pedro Martinez .691 [206-92] and Tim Hudson .665 [119-
60]…If you got the second one, you’re good…pour yourself a
frosty.
Pedro is #2 all time to Spud Chandler’s .717 [109-43]
Next Bar Chat, Monday pm.
