No Answer Man Here, Just a Few Questions

Just asking, but . . .

Rolf Benirschke certainly got a quick kick by the Dallas Cowboys, didn’t he? What’s the deal?

I suppose it would be ludicrous to suggest that Benirschke was predestined to be cut by the Cowboys. You see, it might have been a bit messy if the Chargers had simply cut this popular chap, especially because they gave him such little opportunity to defend his position.

Alas, these Chargers were not heartless. Instead, they traded him to Dallas and patted themselves on the back for making such a compassionate gesture. In reality, they should have been patting themselves on the back because they were off the hook.

Quietly, oh-so-very-quietly, the Cowboys ran him through a few days of practice, let him kick one chip-shot 24-yard field goal . . . and then ran him out of a job on Labor Day.

Should someone get “credit” for choreographing this nifty little tap-dance out the door?

Naw, couldn’t be, could it? I don’t know, because I’m just asking.

Is the Bill Shoemaker who rode Swink to victory in the Del Mar Handicap Monday any relation to the William (Willie) Shoemaker who was Del Mar’s leading rider as an apprentice in 1949?

If I didn’t know better, I’d say Bill Shoemaker is the son or maybe even the grandson of William (Willie) Shoemaker.

Of course, we all know that Bill and William and Willie are the same guy . . . and what an amazing guy.

To understand how long this man has been riding, consider that George Blanda was a rookie in 1949 and his professional football career was legendary for its longevity. He retired in 1975.

Baseball’s rookies of the year in 1949 were Roy Sievers and Don Newcombe, and they’ve been retired since 1965 and 1960, respectively.

No more questions here, except maybe: “How does this man do it?”

Is New Zealand’s 1988 America’s Cup challenge steeped in sportsmanship or reeking with gamesmanship?

The fate of The Kiwi Caper may well be decided in the New York State Supreme Court today. Michael Fay and Co., arguing that the Deed of Gift is on their side, will be trying to establish the validity of their challenge for the Cup in 90-foot yachts next summer.

Valid or not, the Kiwi challenge smacks more of gamesmanship than sportsmanship. Fay took a peek in his periscope and perceived that San Diego’s organizers were in disarray, and sailed into the confused picture with a most precise challenge.

This caused the divided factions hereabouts to unify against a common enemy, but by then it was too late to stay out of court.

Thus, the Kiwis have a chance to litigate and price their way into an advantageous position . . . and eliminate all but a few potential opponents.

One can only hope the New York Supreme Court will rule that it is the trustee of the spirit of competition as it has evolved rather than the interpreter of a 100-year-old document which has been outdated longer than Bill/Willie/William has been riding horses.

Did San Diego State really have a Heisman Trophy candidate on the field against UCLA Saturday night?

Maybe. The highlight of the game for the Aztecs was certainly a Heisman-caliber play.

However, quarterback Todd Santos was not The Man on this play.

This running back took a handoff and dashed around left end, stutter-stepped and dodged, accelerated and was gone down the sideline for 65 yards and a touchdown. No one made a better run all night, including UCLA’s potential Heismans I and II: Gaston Green and Eric Ball.

Unfortunately for SDSU, a holding penalty nullified the effort.

Fortunately for SDSU, Tommy Booker is a freshman . . . and a candidate, blow those trumpets, for the 1990 Heisman Trophy.

Is it true that the Sockers have signed Branko Segota?

That’s what I hear. However, the Sockers have been regularly calling press conferences to announce that they have signed Branko Segota. If they have signed him as many times as they have announced they were going to sign him, I would guess he’s under contract for about as long as Willie/William/Bill has been riding horses.

I understand Segota and Socker co-managing general partner Bob Bell were, indeed, hand in hand Tuesday, presumably because they were handcuffed together.

Are the Padres accomplishing one of the most storied comebacks in baseball history?

Let’s not use the word “storied.” We’re talking the wrong end of the standings.

There is no record, at least that I could find, for biggest comeback to escape last place. It might be noted, however, that the Padres were 13 1/2 games out of fifth place when they awakened on June 5 with a 12-42 record. The ascent from such depths does not exactly stir a frenzy among the faithful, but it does pique interest in what would be otherwise a dreary September.

And the Padres also create optimism for, you guessed it, next year. The National League West is not a division anyone figures to dominate. In fact, should the last-place team finish closer than 21 games behind, it would be the closest such finish for a last-place team in baseball history.

How’s that for going after a storied record?