Sammy Sosa says he is in a “zone” right now.
Sosa, with a league-leading 36 home runs, is on pace to challenge Cubs Hall of Fame outfielder Hack Wilson, who banged out the National League-record 56 in 1930.
Wilson had a lifetime batting average of .322 with the Cubs, with 768 runs batted in. But Sosa never had heard of Wilson until writers apprised him of the home run record.
“I don’t know about this guy,” the native of the Dominican Republic said Wednesday. “I just go out and do my job. A lot of people talk about this guy, but I don’t know who he is.”
When told that Wilson must have been a heck of a player (56 homers, 208 hits, 190 RBIs, .356 batting average and .723 slugging percentage in 1930), Sosa said:
“I have never seen him. So there is nothing I can say about him. You have to understand that I don’t read the paper, I don’t listen to a lot of stories that a lot of people say. I just have time to take care of myself and my family and my game.”
So far, Sosa, who walked three times Wednesday, is taking care of himself quite well. He is hitting .282 with 89 runs batted in.
You the man! For a team that stands two games below .500, the Cubs continue to generate incredible fan support.
“Sometimes, when I am 0 for 5, the fans say: `Come on, Sammy. You are the man! Don’t worry about it.’ They give me a lot of emotion,” said Sosa.
Mad as he wants to be: Reports from Dennis Rodman’s camp last season indicated the flamboyant Bulls forward was nearly bankrupt a year ago. Until Dwight Manley took over as his agent, that is.
“Those reports are all lies. It is very disappointing.” said Washington D.C.-based lawyer Neil Draddy, who represented Rodman for 11 years until Manley, a coin collector by trade, moved in. “I’m surprised nobody ever asked me about what’s going on.”
Under league rules, Manley submitted a letter signed by Rodman to Draddy indicating the change in agents.
“Dennis did not call us and let us know it was over,” said Draddy. “That would have been nice. We had been together since he came out of college and we had done some things for Dennis that most people will never know.”
Asked why Manley would tell the public he rescued Rodman from bankruptcy, Draddy said:
“That’s Dwight trying to promote himself as a savior. It makes us look bad and it makes Dennis look bad and it makes him look good. Dennis was always susceptible to outside people. He’s listening to Dwight.”
Just the facts: A league ruling on Bears cornerback Donnell Woolford (DUI in May) may not come until Commissioner Paul Tagliabue returns from the Olympics. . . . This year’s Downers Grove International Sports Grand Prix will be a two-day event (Aug. 17 and 18) of cycling and in-line racing. . . . Mike Greenberg will interview WSCR-AM afternoon hosts Terry Boers and Dan McNeil Sunday on CLTV’s “Sports Page” (9 p.m.) on his final show before assuming a new job at ESPN at the end of this month.
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Send e-mail to Fred Mitchell at Kick3485@aol.com.
