Billy’s Holiday Might Be Longer

Who’s the boss? New York Yankees Manager Billy Martin gave his players the day off Thursday, and owner George Steinbrenner wasn’t too happy about it.

According to the New York Times, Steinbrenner had vowed that anyone who failed to show up for a workout at Yankee Stadium would be fined $500, although he later said no fines would be levied.

“I’m not doing it to defy George,” Martin said. “George likes to work out for disciplinary reasons, and I usually go along with it. But because of the heat we had in Boston and the fact we’re getting in so late (from Boston), I’m not going to do it.”

Said Steinbrenner: “He’s the manager. It’s up to him. I’m not mad. But he also said he would overtake Toronto, and I say fine. When a vice president of a corporation says he can meet his quota without having his men work overtime, then doesn’t meet his quota, he’s not going to be vice president for long.

“I want them to be totally dedicated to what it’s going to take to beat Toronto (the Yankees trail by seven games). I don’t want to see players carry around briefcases and worrying about endorsements or appearances. I hope they put out for Billy, because they’re putting him in a spot.”

Freedom of the press dept.: Clemson football Coach Danny Ford has decided to bar members of the media from the locker room following home games.

Athletic Director Bobby Robinson said the plan is tentative, but Ford said: “I told him (Robinson) what we’re going to do, and that’s the way we’re going to do it.”

Under the new policy, Ford and sports information director Bob Bradley would choose two offensive and two defensive players for the postgame interview. No other players would be allowed to talk to the press until the following Monday or Tuesday.

“I don’t think you should subject a kid who played a terrible game to the press,” Ford said.

Hitting it big: Atlanta reliever Terry Forster has made a music video scheduled for release next month. The title: “Fat Is In.”

A sample of the lyrics: “Fat is in, stuff your face and don’t be thin.”

Futility dept.: According to a California League press release, Steve Howard of the Modesto A’s recently struck out seven straight times during two games against the Redwood Pioneers to run his season total to 103 strikeouts in 248 at-bats.

And Rob Rowen, a left-hander for the Bakersfield Dodgers, walked seven batters in a row during the second inning of a game July 31 at Fresno. Rowen gave up 10 runs, all earned, before being removed with two out, raising his ERA to 11.08.

Former Chicago White Sox owner Bill Veeck, who has been critical of current owners Eddie Einhorn and Jerry Reinsdorf, attended a game at Comiskey Park recently for the first time since the 1983 All-Star game.

Asked by a fan why he was sitting in the cheap seats and not in the owners’ box, Veeck said: “I figured this was far enough away so I wouldn’t be contaminated.”

Quotebook

Pete Rose, on why he plans to continue playing after this season: “I’m still producing, I’m still having fun and I can’t think of anything better to do during the summer.”