Can Thrift Be George’s Yes Man?

In a poll of major league general managers by Sport magazine, one of the questions asked was: “Would you work for George Steinbrenner?”

Of the 26 polled, 17 said no. Among the 9 who said yes was Syd Thrift of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

“Yes, I’d work for him,” Thrift said. “But don’t forget, I worked for Charlie Finley.”

Said Boston Celtics Coach K.C. Jones, after the series with the Chicago Bulls: “Want to know how good Michael Jordan is? Normally, the guys on the bench are leaning forward, trying to make eye contact with me. When they saw what Jordan was doing, nobody wanted to guard him. I’d look down the bench and they were all leaning back. So I leaned back, too.”

Trivia Time: When St. Louis’ Steve Carlton set the record of 19 strikeouts in a game, which was broken by Roger Clemens, what team did he beat? (Answer below.)

Add Clemens: Said Seattle Mariners catcher Steve Yeager: “The only one that I’ve ever seen throw like that is Dwight Gooden. He didn’t try to trick you, he just came right at you. He’s in the same category with Carlton, Seaver and Koufax.”

Note: In tying the old record, Clemens struck out former University of Texas teammate Spike Owen, the Seattle shortstop.

For What It’s Worth: USC and Illinois both had nine players chosen in the NFL draft to lead all schools. Tied for third with seven each were UCLA, Brigham Young, Florida and Auburn.

From Pat Haden, noting that the first two choices of the Rams were geography majors: “They ought to be able to find their way to Anaheim.”

BYU’s Robbie Bosco was the sixth quarterback taken, by the Green Bay Packers, but New York Jets personnel director Mike Hickey said before the draft: “Bosco was this year’s most overscouted player, just like Dan Marino. They knew so much about him they started looking for things wrong. Bosco’s a kid who rated as a great prospect and a great leader, and just because he doesn’t have a cannon for an arm, people get down on him. Suddenly, a person with a competitive ability has a fall from grace.”

Marino also was the sixth quarterback taken, but he was selected on the first round. Bosco was taken on the third round.

No, Vance Mueller wouldn’t be the first running back from Occidental to make it to the NFL if he sticks with the Raiders. Gene Moore played for the San Francisco 49ers in 1969.

From Buddy Martin’s story in the Denver Post on the Denver Nuggets’ second straight loss to the Houston Rockets in the playoffs: “Let’s analyze Tuesday night’s game and see what went wrong. On second thought, let’s not.”

Trivia Answer: He didn’t win. In the game played Sept. 15, 1969, the New York Mets beat Carlton and St. Louis, 4-3, on a pair of two-run homers by Ron Swoboda.

Add Swoboda: Carlton’s catcher was Tim McCarver, now a Met announcer, who says: “We pitched Swoboda exactly the way we wanted, and he still hit those two pitches out. Those balls were unhittable, they really were. To this day, I can’t understand how Ron hit those homers. That night, more than any other, proved to me that the Mets were a team of destiny.”

Quotebook

Former boxing champion Roberto Duran, asked about rumors he is broke: “If people say I’m broke, that’s OK. Then maybe my friends will stop asking me for money.”