Van Berg Doesn’t Have to Give It Back Just Yet

Jack Van Berg, trainer of Alysheba, was talking to the press after his horse’s victory in the Kentucky Derby when he was interrupted by a phone call.

The call was from Harry Rosenbloom, one of the horse’s owners.

In 1971, the National Turfwriters Assn. presented an inscribed stopwatch to Hall of Fame trainer Woody Stephens. Two years ago, Stephens put the watch up for auction to benefit the fine arts center at Little Rock, Ark., the home of Oaklawn Park.

“I was the auctioneer,” Van Berg recalled. “Harry Rosenbloom bought it for $750. He gave it to me and said, ‘You keep it until you win the Derby.’ ”

So did Rosenbloom ask for it back?

“No, he’s going to let me have it until after the Belmont,” Van Berg said.

From Richard Justice of the Washington Post: Atlanta Braves Manager Chuck Tanner promised a faster, more exciting team, but in April, the Braves were only 5 for 20 in stolen bases. They grounded into 15 double plays during a four-game series with the San Francisco Giants (a record). “If you don’t like the way the Atlanta Braves are playing baseball, you don’t like baseball,” Tanner said.

Add Justice: Minor-league matchup to watch: Columbus and Tidewater play each other May 15-17, and there’s a possibility that Ron Guidry will pitch against Dwight Gooden in one of the games.

Trivia Time: On April Fools’ Day in 1950, how did the Hollywood Stars make history with uniforms they wore against the Portland Beavers in a Pacific Coast League game? (Answer below.)

From Dallas Mavericks’ Coach Dick Motta, denying he will leave the team even though he has agreed to talk to the Clippers: “You’ve got to talk. You have to say hello because you can’t burn a bridge. There aren’t too many bridges in this league.”

For What It’s Worth: Earl Lloyd was interviewed during halftime of the Milwaukee-Philadelphia game Sunday and was introduced as the first black to play in the NBA, but the real pioneers were Chuck Cooper and Nat (Sweetwater) Clifton. In the 1950-51 season, Lloyd played only seven games with Washington. Cooper played 66 games with Boston and Clifton was in 65 games with New York the same season.

The demotion of pitcher Roger Mason by the Giants has cost the major leagues one of its budding offensive stars. Mason, an .077 career hitter , missed first base after an apparent double to center field against the Braves, and was thrown out at first base by Andre Dawson of the Cubs on what looked like a base hit to right.

Mason’s explanation for the second incident: “I was running into the wind.”

Hector (Macho) Camacho had this to say about his image after Saturday’s victory over Howard Davis in his first fight as a junior welterweight: “People write about me like I’m some kind of freak, like a little hoodlum off the streets. I’m happy to say I’m the most classiest young man I know.”

Trivia Answer: They wore shorts. Note: Portland Manager Bill Sweeney joined in the fun by wearing an apron and a purple hat, over a long, curly wig, and presenting Hollywood Manager Fred Haney with a bouquet of pansies when they met at home plate to exchange lineups.

Quotebook

Reggie Jackson of the Oakland A’s: “There are only three major changes I’ve undergone in my life. Between the ages of zero and 14, I was colored. Between the ages of 14 and 30, I was a Negro. And between the ages of 30 and the present, I’m black.”