Stargell's 'called shot' the real deal
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Babe Ruth's batter's-box prediction that he would hit the next pitch for a home run during the 1932 World Series at Wrigley Field is disputed to this day.
But Willie Stargell, the Pittsburgh Pirate slugger who died earlier this month, left no doubt about his "called shot" home run at Portland's Multnomah Stadium in 1979.
On June 18, 1979, Stargell and the Pirates were in Portland for an exhibition game against their Class AAA affiliate, the Beavers. Stargell's magic moment came during a home-run derby before the game.
Portland GM David Hersh, who was handing out $100 bills to any player who could clear the fence during the derby, offered Stargell a $1,000 bounty if he could reach the balcony of the Multnomah Athletic Club. It was no easy poke, since the club was perched 403 feet from the plate behind the right-field wall and more than 55 feet above the playing surface.
"Make it $2,000," Stargell said. Hersh agreed, and Stargell sent the next batting-practice pitch soaring to its appointed spot.
"The ball that he hit is something ... you can call it once in a lifetime," said Hersh. "The fact that he called his own shot made it more incredible."
Fox presents The Honeymooners
Laker forward Rick Fox says that new wedding ring on teammate Kobe Bryant's finger could be the key to a repeat NBA title ring.
"I think marriage has been real good for Kobe," said Fox with a laugh, noting Bryant's dazzling performance - 23 assists and just three turnovers - in Los Angeles' stunning three-game sweep of Portland in the opening round of the NBA playoffs. "He is really working on sacrificing, on being responsible to a partner.
"He's got 14 partners right here."
Can we skip dinner, dad?
Most kids are scared of those monsters that live under beds and in bedroom closets.
Hasim Rahman's offspring are more concerned with the ones that eat daddy's ears and threaten to devour daddy's children. The new heavyweight champ said he found that out when he returned home after taking the title from Lennox Lewis.
Said Rahman: "My 4-year-old, the first thing he says when I come to the door is, `No Lennox and Tyson.' "
Leave it to A-Rod
Alex Rodriguez, the guy who just couldn't say enough nice things about his ex-teammates, management and fans on his first return visit to Seattle, now says that the retooled Mariners' 20-5 start - the winningest April in major-league history - is no surprise to him, either.
I keep hearing A-Rod speaking, but why do I keep seeing Eddie Haskell complimenting June Cleaver on her new hairdo?
No field of dreams in Utah
"Build it and they will come" might fly in an Iowa cornfield, but it's no hit in the deserts of Utah.
Two-thirds of 607 state residents polled by Salt Lake City media say they don't plan to attend any events at the 2002 Winter Olympics.
Chim-Chim bumps Speed Racer
Formula One driver Niki Lauda says too much technology - traction control, electronic starting and fully automatic gearboxes - is starting to take the human element out of his sport.
"Today a monkey could drive an F1 car," Lauda said. "Although I don't know how fast he could drive it."
-- Dwight Perry, The Seattle Times