An unexpected perk
IT DIDN’T TAKE LONG for Thad Matta to reap the benefits of his new job. Matta, formally introduced as Ohio State’s basketball coach on Friday, said his mind was wandering during his drive home from the airport on Wednesday after interviewing for the job.
“I was driving 58 mph in a 40-mph zone and a police officer stopped me and let me know that,” Matta said.
The officer asked Matta why he was driving fast and he explained that he was preoccupied because he was thinking about changing jobs. She asked what he did for a living and he told her that he was the basketball coach at Xavier.
“She said, ‘Really? I went to Ohio State,’ ” Matta said, a grin spreading across his face. “I said, ‘I just took the job!’ And she said, ‘Have a great day.’ “
Mac still power hitter
It’s taken awhile, but Mark McGwire seems to be getting close to choosing another career – traveling golfer.
McGwire, 40, who retired from the St. Louis Cardinals in 2001, can launch a golf ball more than 300 yards and he has had his club head speed measured at more than 140 miles an hour; most PGA Tour players are in the 115-125 mph range.
McGwire has entered to play in the California State Championship in September.
McGwireis the defending champion in the ADT Golf Skills, which will be played in November. Last year, McGwire defeated Nick Faldo, Greg Norman, Paul Azinger, Colin Montgomerie and Rich Beem.
Start ‘em when they’re young
A 15-year-old girl has become the youngest female fan to be banned from soccer matches for her part in a riot after a match in the English Premier League.
The BBC reported that Felicity Thorpe admitted being among 300 who went on the rampage near the Fratton Park stadium after Portsmouth’s 1-0 victory over visiting Southampton.
Bleeding the field dry
From Los Angeles broadcaster Alan Massengale: “Did you see where Mike Tyson’s representatives have proposed a seven-fight plan to get him out of bankruptcy?
“The problem with this is, I don’t believe even the Del Monte Corp. can come up with that many tomato cans.”
Someone call Letterman
ESPN the Magazine lists these as among the top excuses by NBA players for not joining the U.S. Olympic team:
• “I already signed up for synchronized swimming.”
• “I`m marrying J-Lo on the same day as the gold-medal game.”
A veteran’s perspective
Dave Winfield, a recent guest on a TBS Atlanta Braves telecast, was asked about his opinion of the designated hitter rule.
“Early in my career I said, ‘What is this, a guy that can hit but can’t play the field?’ As I matured, I said, ‘Would you rather see me hit or some pitcher?’ “
Well, they both wear gloves
“I’m not saying that sports fans in Canada don’t know much about baseball,” reader Jim Greene of San Francisco writes to the L.A. Times. “However, upon hearing the news that favorite son Eric Gagne just set the record with 84 straight saves, the Montreal Canadiens immediate- ly offered him a contract as a goalie.”