Bo Jackson Already Talks a Good Game

If Bo Jackson fails to make it in the big leagues, it won’t be because of lack of power. That was established Saturday night at Kansas City when he sent a ball to the base of the center-field scoreboard in batting practice.

“It had to go 450 feet plus,” Royal Manager Dick Howser told Dave Anderson of the New York Times. “I’ve never seen anyone hit one that far here straightaway.”

Howser continued: “Potentially, I’ve never seen anybody with the batting strength this kid has. For sheer power, he’s like Mickey Mantle, Harmon Killebrew and Frank Howard were. He’s like Jose Canseco is now--when they hit a ball, it keeps going and going and lands 30 to 50 feet further than anyone else hits the ball.”

Howser conceded Jackson might have problems with breaking balls but said: “There’s nothing this kid can’t do. Our scouts rate prospects on a grade of 2 to 8, and this kid is an 8 in power, an 8 in running speed and a 7 to 8 in throwing.”

Jackson himself puts it more succinctly.

“Let me state a fact,” he said. “Bo Jackson can play baseball.”

Add Bo: It’s been reported he signed a $5-million contract with the Royals, but United Press International speculates that it’s closer to $500,000.

“His contract is similar to Pete Incaviglia’s,” a source told UPI. “He’s getting--and I haven’t seen the contract--$100,000, $100,00 and $160,487.”

UPI said it learned that Jackson got a signing bonus estimated at $100,000, which would bring the total package to $460,487.

Trivia Time: In the famed brawl at the Copacabana involving six members of the New York Yankees on Billy Martin’s birthday in 1957, what touched off the brawl? (Answer below.)

Chi Chi Rodriguez, winner of the PGA Senior tournament, which was televised by ESPN, said he took his time in celebrating after collecting $45,000, the biggest check of his career.

“The only time a Puerto Rican’s in a hurry is when he’s running a red light,” Chi Chi said. “Hey does ESPN stand for Espanol?”

Add ESPN: Skip Bayless of the Dallas Times Herald said he watches the World Cup on ESPN, because the announcing is in English, but immediately switches to Spanish-speaking SIN after a goal so he can hear Tony Tirado say: “GOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLL!!!!”

Bayless: “Tirado calls goals as if they’re air raids. He sounds like a llama in heat.”

Add World Cup: Said Diego Maradona of Argentina when asked about charges that his first goal against England Sunday was scored illegally by his hand: “That goal was scored a little bit by the hand of God and another bit by Maradona’s head.”

According to the Denver Post, when Ohio State forward Brad Sellers was asked the best player he faced in college, he said Scott Skiles of Michigan State.

So what did Skiles think of Sellers?

One general manager told the Post that when he posed the question, Skiles said: “I wouldn’t take him if I were you. He can’t play a lick.”

Sellers was drafted by Chicago, Skiles by Milwaukee.

Trivia Answer: Hank Bauer was accused of slugging a patron, although he later was cleared of the charges. Other Yankees at the party were Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford and Johnny Kucks. A month later, the Yankees traded Martin to Kansas City.

Quotebook

Cincinnati Manager Pete Rose, on why he continues to play at age 45: “I can’t think of anything better to do in the summertime than play baseball.”