There’s Only One Big O, but This Guy Isn’t Oscar Mayer

Move over, Oscar Robertson. The Big O, at least for this week, is Oscar Schmidt, who scored 46 points in Brazil’s stunning 120-115 upset of the United States in the Pan American Games basketball final Sunday at Indianapolis.

Schmidt, 29, is a 6-foot 8 1/2-inch forward who didn’t begin playing basketball until he was 14. He says he didn’t shoot from outside until he was 18, when he was moved from center to forward.

Schmidt has no trouble making long-distance connections now. He averaged 35 points in Brazil’s seven games, which included a 53-point output against Mexico in the semifinals. And he made 35 of his 72 three-point attempts

Shy, he’s not. He and forward Marcel Souza took 51 of Brazil’s 81 shots against the U.S. team.

“One person shoots and four go for the rebound,” Schmidt explained. “Any shot is a good shot, any time.”

Said U.S. center David Robinson, commenting on Schmidt’s infrequent passes: “It’s hard to guard someone who doesn’t have a conscience.”

The lights are on, but is anybody home?: New York Giants wide receiver Bobby Johnson, who was traded last week to the San Diego Chargers, said: “I can’t play unless the sun is shining.”

Johnson’s best game as a Giant--8 receptions for 115 yards--came in the season opener against the Dallas Cowboys. It was played on a Monday night.

Deal him in: During two days of filming a TV commercial with John Elway, Giant quarterback Phil Simms said he played a good deal of gin rummy with the Denver quarterback.

Said Simms: “I found out I’d like to play him some more.”

Still Clemens-time: In his last 14 starts, Boston pitcher Roger Clemens is 9-1 and is unbeaten in his last five outings. His total of 209 innings leads the majors.

Adios, Amigo: The Pan Am Games almost lost a mascot on their final day when the person wearing the costume of Amigo, the green-feathered parrot, left the costume’s head and feet in a laundry room early Sunday morning. Police finally traced the missing parts to a paperboy who said he took them for a souvenir.

No charges were filed.

Toronto’s George Bell may be on the verge of overtaking Oakland A’s rookie Mark McGwire for the American League lead in home runs, but the Blue Jay outfielder already has set a record of sorts.

Bell, who has 38 home runs to McGwire’s 39, has surpassed Pedro Guerrero of the Dodgers as the leading slugger from the Dominican Republic. Guerrero’s best season was 1985, when he hit 33 home runs. Bell and Guerrero are both natives of San Pedro de Macoris.

Add Bell: “I left school before the 12th grade because I had to play baseball,” he told the Toronto Globe recently in a rare interview. “People don’t understand that baseball is our education.

“When you look at guys like Pete Incaviglia and Bob Horner, who go from college to the big leagues, you see it’s different for them. Dominican players have to work harder through the minor leagues.”

Maybe the Dodgers can sign him: The Montreal Expos were beaten, 22-1, by their children in a recent pregame exhibition. Imagine what the score would have been if Tim Raines Jr. had been present.

The 8-year-old son of the Expo All-Star was away, registering for school.

Quotebook

Minnesota Twins pitcher Joe Niekro, when asked by comedian David Letterman whether he doctors the baseballs: “Do I look like a doctor?”