– Never too late: Nearly 20 years after leaving school to play in the NFL, this former Purdue player will return to get his degree in commencement exercises next month in West Lafayette, Ind. No one`s complaining about the delay. That`s because the persevering player is Darryl Stingley, who has been paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair ever since being hit by the Raiders`
Jack Tatum in 1978 while playing for the Patriots. Stingley`s been taking correspondence courses from Chicago Citywide College the past few years.
”It`s something he`s wanted to do, come to the graduation,” said Purdue Associate AD Bob DeMoss, who was Darryl`s coach at the Big 10 school. ”He started it. He wanted it. He got it. To him, it`s been unfinished business and, if you ask me, it`s pretty inspiring.”
– Lampoon time: OK, so Michael Jordan`s made it through the regular season. He withstood criticism for snubbing President George Bush. He survived ”The Jordan Rules.” He got through a mild rebuke from the NBA about occasional choices of golf partners. Now comes the real test. It`s time this coming weekend for the Chicago Headline Club`s annual Gridiron Show in which the media lashes back at news figures, like Sir Michael, in satirical skits. (Last year`s sports segment had Chicago dignitaries dodging bullets at the opening of new Comiskey Park.) This year`s show is called ”Oh! Calumetta!” Without trying to give too much away, let it be said the scene involving Jordan has the Bulls superstar flying ahead in his own jet to the next game in Portland after playing in Miami-while Phil Jackson, Will Perdue, Scottie Pippen, Sam Smith and Bob Greene ride together in a car. Plot hint: It involves a player betting $10,000 on the Stadium scoreboard`s M & Ms race.
– Charity at home: On a more benevolent Bulls` note, the team held its annual charity pizza-fest Monday night at Lou Malnati`s in Chicago. ”It`s a chance for us to give back something to the community,” said GM Jerry Krause, noting that the annual event brings in lots of money for good causes. Last year, for instance, one of Michael Jordan`s autographed jerseys was sold for more than announcer Johnny Kerr paid for his first house. (You be the judge on that one.) This year? Well, it is possible the team`s followers are getting in a playoff mode. While there was lots of action on game-worn, autographed jerseys from Patrick Ewing, Dominique Wilkins, Shawn Kemp, Alvin Robertson, Larry Bird and Karl Malone in the auction, there was little interest shown in old, bitter rival Dennis Rodman`s jersey.
– More Bulls: While Jerry Reinsdorf and players were munching pizza at Malnati`s, ex-Bulls coach Doug Collins made an NBA playoff prediction Monday night at Thirty-Four`s that should`ve made them swallow hard. He`s got the Bulls getting to the finals against Portland-and beating the Blazers in six. Collins, an analyst for Ted Turner`s network (his fulltime job is attending son Chris Collins` games), has Chicago sweeping the opening two dates in the Stadium against Clyde Drexler & Co., taking one of three in Portland, and then winning its second title in Game 6 here.
– Between the lines: Mike Singletary will sign an agreement this week to become a spokesman for the Illinois Parks & Recreation Society. The Bears linebacker will make appearances and tape public service announcements for the organization, plugging, for the most part, its new ”take time for fun”
program. Wonder if we should read something in this: The deal is for three years. Since Singletary indicated this will be his last season as a player before getting into coaching, sounds like he`s going to be remain a part of the Bears picture.
– Kicking off: Ara Parseghian has agreed to serve as ”honorary game chairman” for next fall`s Northwestern-Notre Dame slaughter, er, football game in Soldier Field. The Chicago Park District`s Gene Sullivan said Parseghian will make appearances to help promote the contest. It`s a natural. Ara was head coach at both schools.
– Huffing and puffing: Mike Huff is off to a nice start this season with the White Sox, but brother Matt Huff, who just transferred to Northwestern, is doing better, thank you. Matt made a great throw over the weekend from right field to nail a runner at third base for a rare 9-5 double play. He`s raised his batting average to .352, second on the team, and recently took over the RBI and stolen base leads for the Wildcats. Meanwhile, Dale Torborg, son of Mets manager Jeff Torborg, is struggling at first base for Paul Stevens` club. He`s hitting .171 in 19 games.
– Scribbling: Illinois coaches Lou Henson and Lou Tepper will make a joint appearance Wednesday, starting at 5:30 p.m., at an alumni gathering at High Tops near Wrigley Field. . . . Chicago officials say, at this time, the May 15 date for boaters to begin using the city-maintained lakefront slips will not be affected by the flood.
– And finally: The Cubs have scheduled a clinic for women June 14 in Wrigley Field, where the first 5,000 female fans, 14 and over, will be invited to the field for chalkboard sessions with coaches and players. Originally, it was understood that the coaches and players will handle the instruction segment of the program. But at the current rate, the Cubs may be in need of help themselves.
