Saved by the Toss of a Coin

Charlie Thomas, owner of the Houston Rockets, told the Houston Chronicle that if he had lost the flip for Ralph Sampson in 1983, he would have put the club up for sale.

If the Rockets had lost the flip, they probably would have been forced to go for Steve Stipanovich, hardly a franchise saver. Thomas said Ray Patterson, the Houston general manager, explained the situation.

“Ray told me there would be no way to turn the team around if we didn’t get Sampson,” Thomas said. “He said it would be useless, like banging our heads against the wall.”

Of the flip, in the office of NBA Commissioner Larry O’Brien, Thomas said: “The whole thing was so silly. There I was, a reasonable businessman, with an entire in vestment of close to $10 million riding on the toss of a coin.

“The commissioner tossed that coin in the air, and I was afraid to look down. I know it rolled across the rug and against the wall. But I was so nervous I kept my eyes straight ahead. It seemed like forever was passing. I could hear my heart pounding.

“Then the commissioner finally said, ‘Charlie, you won.’ And I couldn’t believe it.”

Add Thomas: He also won the flip the following year for Akeem Olajuwon, but he said it wasn’t the same.

“There was no way I could lose,” he said. “I wanted Akeem, but if I lost, I got Michael Jordan. I didn’t see that as losing.”

Trivia Time: Name the only pitcher to beat Bob Gibson in both the National and American leagues. (Answer below.)

Dick Enberg chided Morning Briefing for not putting Ron Fairly on that all-time USC team, but it should be explained that it was based on what they did in the major leagues, not at USC.

Would you pick Fairly over Dave Kingman at first, or over Steve Kemp, Fred Lynn or Don Buford in the outfield?

Buford got the nod for scoring 99 runs three straight years for the Baltimore Orioles in 1969-71, leading the American League in 1971.

Todd Phipers of the Denver Post, on the Denver Gold’s 51-0 win Saturday night: “Now it can be told why the high-rolling owners of the United States Football League are paying the salaries of the bankrupt Los Angeles Express this season.

“They need a punching-bag to drop around occasionally and make the home team look like a reincarnation of Vince Lombardi’s Packers.”

Minnesota Twins scout Ellis Clary, on his former doctor: “He was a cholesterol expert. He removed the fat from my wallet.”

Of a heart attack, Clary said: “The doctor wanted me to have a pacemaker put in, but I refused because my brother had one installed and every time he sneezes the garage door flies open.”

Vincent Reel, editor of Women’s Track & Field World, says his favorite names are Julia Hoots of Cal Poly SLO, Tanya Twedt of Iowa State and Comfort Igabon of Texas Southern.

He adds: “If Ray Lumpp, meet director for the Olympic Invitational, would marry our photographer, Dodie Bump, she would become Dodie Bump Lumpp.”

Trivia Answer: Tommy John. In 1974, pitching for the Dodgers, he beat Bob Gibson of the St. Louis Cardinals. In 1984, pitching for the Angels, he beat Robert L. (Bob) Gibson of the Milwaukee Brewers. The latter win was the 252nd of John’s career, breaking a tie for 34th in career wins with Bob Gibson of the Cardinals.

Quotebook

Jim Plunkett of the Raiders, asked if he’d thought of retirement after 14 years in the NFL: “I’ve thought about it, but I decided I’d miss the crowds. When you hook on 9-to-5, the only noise you hear is that of the air conditioner.”