G’day to Bend an Elbow, Mate?

After his semifinal victory over Jimmy Connors at Wimbledon, Pat Cash was asked if he would still be playing at the age of 34.

“I don’t think so,” the 22-year-old Australian said. “I want to lay on the beach, get a good suntan, be a yobbo and reach 20 stone. Perhaps my wife will think I’m disgusting. I want to go out with the boys and bend the elbow.”

Translations: Yobbo--hoodlum. 20 stone--280 pounds. Bend the elbow--drink.

Add Tennis: Marveled a Wimbledon official after Steffi Graf raced through Pam Shriver in 51 minutes: “She plays like she’d rented the court for an hour.”

If you’re not impressed by Patrik Sjoberg’s 7-11 in the high jump, try marking it off on the wall. You’ll need a chair, and maybe a ladder.

Remember Charley Dumas? Sjoberg has added a foot to Dumas’ winning jump in the 1956 Olympics.

Trivia Time: Who is the only player in National League history to hit two grand slams in one game? (Answer below.)

11 Years Ago Today: On Bicentennial Day in 1976, Philadelphia catcher Tim McCarver lost credit for a grand slam at Pittsburgh when he passed Garry Maddox on the basepaths. Maddox was on first base en route to second but returned to first thinking McCarver’s drive might be caught. While Maddox was retracing his steps, McCarver passed him. The Phillies still won, 10-5.

For What It’s Worth: Since the start of divisional play in 1969, excluding the strike year of 1981, the teams leading their divisions on July 4 finished first 19 of 34 times. That’s a percentage of .559.

Michael Jordan, playing with Hubert Green in the pro-am of the Greater Hartford Open, was outdriving the former U.S. Open champion by an average of 30 yards, according to the New York Times.

Jordan, who shot a 79, was averaging 265 to 270 yards off the tee, with some going more than 300 yards.

In the amateur driving contest, however, Jordan gave way to a hockey player.

Kevin Dineen of the Hartford Whalers was the winner at 297 yards.

From Buddy Martin of the Denver Post, rating the worst chokes of June:

“(1) Boris Becker blowing Wimbledon.

“(2) Denver Dynamite kicker Marty Coyne becoming the first player in Arena Football history to be waived from the league.”

Rich Coberly of Newport Beach notes that Detroit’s Darrell Evans has joined Reggie Jackson as the only players to hit 100 home runs for three different franchises.

Evans, who previously hit 120 for Atlanta and 142 for San Francisco, hit his 100th for the Tigers Wednesday night.

Trivia Answer: Pitcher Tony Cloninger of the Atlanta Braves. On July 3, 1966, he hit two grand slams and added a single for nine RBIs as the Braves beat the San Francisco Giants, 17-3.

Quotebook

Houston Rockets Coach Bill Fitch, on his financial situation: “I’m independently wealthy. I have enough money to last me the rest of my life--provided I die tomorrow.”