– Market place: As we near the All-Star break, let`s review the theory forwarded by Brewers owner Bud Selig and others that only teams in major television markets can compete in these modern times in Major League Baseball. A close inspection of the standings shows that not one of the U.S. teams leading a division-Minnesota (No. 15), Pittsburgh (No. 17) or Cincinnati (No. 29)-are in a top-10 market. Furthermore, Baltimore, which is in hot pursuit of American League East leader Toronto, also does not qualify as a top-10 market city. The Orioles are in the No. 22 city, though No. 7 Washington isn`t far away. Of course, another way to look at the theory is to reverse it. How are clubs in the top markets doing? They are: New York (Yankees, Mets), Los Angeles (Dodgers, Angels), Chicago (Cubs, White Sox), Philadelphia (Phillies), Bay Area (A`s, Giants), Boston (Red Sox), Washington (none), Dallas-Ft. Worth (Rangers), Detroit (Tigers) and Houston (Astros). At last glance, only the A`s, who share their market, and possibly the Rangers could be labeled serious contenders from that group of teams.
– Paging Bo: Bo Jackson may not know it, but he`s the target for a letter-writing campaign by hundreds of kids in the Gainesville, Fla., area. They want him to come to their Babe Ruth Bambino World Series for youth teams in August. Why Bo? ”We polled all the kids in eight local schools to find out what player they`d most want to have throw out the first ball and he won,”
said tournament coordinator Les Sparkman. ”We called the White Sox and they said they had no problem with us writing the letters.” Sparkman said Jackson hadn`t responded, however. It`ll be interesting to see if the kids can crack the wall that Jackson`s people have constructed around him.
– Putting around: Chicago stockbroker Bill Osborne has played golf in all but one of the 30 Western Open pro-ams, but last week he got a special charge from being in a group that had Ben Crenshaw as its PGA star. It wasn`t so much that Crenshaw went on to win the championship. Heck, Osborne`s first partner in 1964 was Jack Nicklaus. Later he was with Tom Watson the year he won the title. In fact, Bill`s been with so many Western winners he couldn`t remember them all. No, here`s what made this connection special: Crenshaw, like Osborne, is an avid historian of the sport and a collector of historic equipment. Bill`s hickory-shafted putter drew Crenshaw`s immediate attention and the two golfers spent much of the round discussing their passion. Among Bill`s prized possessions: The first golf club ever patented in 1875 and the putter Willie Smith used to win the first Western in 1899.
– Crashing the party: Women played golf in the 32nd annual Children`s Memorial-United Airlines Pro-Am for the first time Monday at Onwentsia C.C. in Lake Forest and they more than held their own in an event that featured 36 PGA players. In fact, Mary Krey, a 10-handicapper among the six female participants, was a member of the afternoon`s winning team captained by former Illinois Open champion Marty Schiene, which shot a 16-under-par 56 in best-ball competition. Schiene had a scratch 65. A team captained by Ed
Dougherty included Anne McIntosh, a 15-handicapper, and finished second in the afternoon flight. Dougherty matched Schiene`s 65, but the best round of the day by a pro went to Lennie Klements with a 64 on the 6,624-yard layout. The overall team winner, with a 52 in the morning round, was led by Pitt Horgan. The pro got plenty of help from amateur teammates John Andersen, Richard Andersen, Roland Casati and Barry Hastings. Horgan had a 70, a score that was bettered on this day by 19 pros.
– Irish eyes: No one`s exactly sure how it happened because, as far as anyone knows, the golden tones of Harry Caray don`t reach Northern Ireland. But Tuesday, 12-year-old Billy Garnon, who`s growing up in war-torn Londonderry, will realize his biggest dream by attending the Cubs game at Wrigley Field. He`ll be accompanied by Randy Schropp and Tom Walsh. Schropp is an Iowa City resident and Billy`s host for a summer program called Project Children in which youth from Northern Ireland stay in the homes of Iowans. ”As soon as he landed in New York, Billy was asking about the Cubs,” said Walsh, who runs the Herbert Hoover Foundation based in West Branch, Iowa. ”We`re not sure how he became a fan, but we`ve arranged for a trip to the game. It`s going to be a big thrill for him.”
– Media beat: No word yet on how WSCR-AM, Chicago`s all-sports daytime radio station, will replace afternoon co-host Brian Hanley of the Sun-Times. Hanley`s newspaper has shifted him to the baseball beat to cover the White Sox after the All-Star break. The station`s Ron Gleason said several alternatives are being explored. . . . On the print side, the Daily Herald in Arlington Heights will have John Mullin cover the Bears this season. Mullin, currently a business writer, replaces Jeff Nordlund.
– Scribbling: Former Indiana basketball player Uwe Blab will play for Germany in the Olympics. Wonder if the big guy is still as deadly from the free throw line. . . . Stan Musial will be the national spokesman for the American Foundation for Urologic Disease, which is undertaking a major public education campaign on prostate disease. Musial was diagnosed in 1989 as having prostate cancer, but received effective treatment. . . . The Bulls` John Paxson has been named to the advisory board for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of northern Illinois, joining Michael Jordan.
