– Downhill from here? It has to be traumatic enough for Michael Jordan that he just turned 30. Here’s something else to consider: Jordan now heads for an All-Star Game where, for the first time in years, he’s seriously challenged as the league’s marquee player. There are a lot of NBA experts who feel that title now belongs to Shaquille O’Neal. The rookie’s growing national TV ratings are a good indication.
– Envelope, please: Steve McMichael got the “Bear of the Year” plaque at SportsChannel’s annual Chicago Sports Awards Dinner, a benefit for the March of Dimes. It wasn’t coincidence that the presentation came late in the program, giving SportsChannel extra time-if needed-to edit the show’s tape before it aired an hour later. “I’m a risk as a public speaker,” acknowledged McMichael in his opening remark. The Bears tackle, a free agent, did say he’s had no contact with the new coaching staff about his future, adding, “I’d love to be a fly on the wall” in Halas Hall. But there was no need for editing this night. Big Steve gave an eloquent, emotional speech in which he pointed out how “humbled” he is by efforts of kids challenged by birth defects.
– Other winners present: Ernie Banks (Lifetime Achievement), Jeremy Roenick (Blackhawk of the Year), Mike Morgan (Cub of the Year), Scottie Pippen (Bull of the Year), Thomas Becke (Inspirational Athlete) and Betty Okino and Nelson Diebel (Amateur Athletes of the Year).
– Tim Raines, White Sox of the Year, was the only no-show, staying in Florida with the explanation his wife was ill. Then there was Ken Harrelson. The Hawk flew in from Orlando, checked into the Stouffer Riviere Hotel, and then bowed out at the last second as co-emcee because of the flu. “I’m glad it wasn’t a nose cold,” said Red Kerr, referring to Harrelson’s schnoz. “We might not have heard from him again until the end of spring training.”
– Emcee Tom Paciorek said there was concern for presenter Dan Jiggetts: “We were worried he wouldn’t be here because we heard he’d been attached to a life-support machine the past two or three months-a refrigerator.”
– Roenick was a repeat winner, but it could be a curse. The Hawks have had two repeat winners in the seven-year-old event, and neither Doug Wilson nor Denis Savard is with the team.
– Presenter Irv Kupcinet noted Banks was famous for always saying “let’s play two” when his Cub teams could “barely play one.”
– Paper Lions: If Penn State has many more football recruiting classes like this year’s-judged by several talent scouts to be subpar-maybe the Big 10 won’t have to fear its newest member. The Nittany Lions were criticized for failing to score well in their home state, where a big loss was QB Ron Powlus to Notre Dame. Two headaches reportedly followed Penn State recruiters: 1. Concern over how long coach Joe Paterno, who recently turned 66, will stay; 2. Lack of identification with new Big 10 opponents.
– Car theft: Anyone notice the change made in that clever Chevrolet Blazer TV commercial showing a snow-filled Stadium parking lot? The BMW that won’t start no longer is referred to as Scottie Pippen’s. It’s become Scott Williams’ car. This can mean only one thing: Pippen has signed a deal with an auto dealer. The irony: Williams drives a Blazer.
– Buffalo beat 1: De Paul AD Bill Bradshaw was the emcee this week in Buffalo for that city’s annual Dunlop Dinner. Among honorees were native son Christian Laettner, taking a night out from NBA wars, and numerous people from the Bills’ organization. Bradshaw, realizing he was stepping into a somber atmosphere, tried to brighten things. He had De Paul math professor Jean Laduke calculate the probability of a city making it to three straight Super Bowls. It’s something like 2,744 to 1. “I don’t know if that made them feel any better,” said Bradshaw, another native of the area, “but I did tell them there are a lot of other cities that wouldn’t mind trading places with Buffalo.”
– Buffalo beat 2: That Dunlop Dinner was a junction for baseball players Andre Dawson and Dennis Eckersley. Both were honorees and, naturally, the subject of leaving the Cubs was broached. Eckersley pointed out his departure was the turning point in his career, citing that it was shortly afterward that he came to grips with alcoholism and went on to his greatest success. Dawson said it seems to “never fail” that players go from the Cubs to stardom. He said he’s especially determined not to reverse the trend.
– Bipartisan pitching: Nolan Ryan will set a record nobody has mentioned when he takes the mound this season. He will be the first ballplayer to play in the major leagues during seven different presidential administrations. Ryan first threw in the majors in 1966, during Lyndon Johnson’s tenure, helped the Mets to a World Series title when Richard Nixon was in the White House, pitched his first four no-hitters during the Nixon-Gerald Ford years, led Houston to the 1980 NL West title at the end of Jimmy Carter’s term, pitched his record fifth no-hitter early in the Ronald Reagan years and added his sixth and seventh-no hitters for the Rangers when George Bush was in the White House. Ryan previously was tied with Pete Rose (John Kennedy through Reagan) for having played during six different presidencies. If Carlton Fisk suits up, he, too, will have played under six presidents (Nixon through Clinton).
– It’s official: The racetrack announcing “baton” won’t be officially passed from Phil Georgeff to Kurt Becker until Thursday night. That’s when Becker moonlights for the first time as caller of video races at the Stadium Club sports bar in Rolling Meadows. It’s a gig Georgeff had before retiring from Chicago’s tracks.
