It May Be Free, but It Isn’t Easy

Syracuse is shooting a horrendous 60.4% from the free-throw line this season. Five times they have gone under 50%, and in their eight losses, they have shot 57.1%, missing 67 foul shots.

Wrote Tony Kornheiser of the Washington Post after the Big East semifinals: “Meaning no disrespect, but exactly who does Syracuse University have in mind when it steps to the foul line, Wilt Chamberlain? You talk about Clang Time. When they give you a basketball scholarship do you automatically get a bricklayer’s union card, too?

“In the first half against Seton Hall on Saturday, Syracuse was flawless at the line--zero for eight. Front rim. Back rim. Side rim. You think Iron Maiden is heavy metal? Try standing around when Syracuse shoots free throws.

“Charity stripe? For that kind of futility they could at least get a tax deduction.”

Ouch: Said ABC’s Dick Vitale during Sunday’s Arizona-Oregon State game: “You look at the personnel of Oregon State and there’s no way they should finish with a better record than UCLA, which has underachieved all year long.”

For What It’s Worth: Since UCLA went to the finals in 1979-80, the Pacific 10 is 6-17 in NCAA tournament play. In the last three seasons, it is 1-8, with Arizona going 0-3.

Trivia Time: If rookie pitcher Randy Johnson, who stands 6-10, makes it with Montreal this year, he will replace who as the tallest player in major league history? (Answer below.)

The St. Louis Cardinals used to share Al Lang Field with the New York Mets in St. Petersburg, but the Mets have moved to Port St. Lucie and Whitey Herzog says: “I liked it the other way. We could get more work in. We’d play B games. I’d call Davey or he’d call me.

“When we played them, no matter who won, I’d tell Davey he should say they won and I’d say we won. No one watched the games, and it would make us both look better.”

Now-it-can-be-told dept.: Darnell Coles of the Pittsburgh Pirates, a star wide receiver at Eisenhower High, told the Sporting News he turned down a scholarship offer from UCLA because he knew he’d have to practice against Kenny Easley and play against Ronnie Lott of USC.

“I didn’t want to get all broken up,” he said.

Detroit Manager Sparky Anderson, never one to shy away from hyperbole, says of Gary Pettis: “He’s improved our team as much as any player we’ve ever acquired through trade. He’s better than I thought. We struck a gold mine.”

From Richard Justice of the Washington Post: “Oakland’s Don Baylor sponsors an annual golf tournament to benefit multiple sclerosis, but he has scheduled it the last two years on the day the seventh game of the World Series was played.

“He has missed it because he has been in uniform for Boston and Minnesota on the day of Game 7. Hoping the charm works, he has scheduled the tournament for the day of Game 7 again this season.”

Glenn Brenner of WUSA-TV in Washington, on the difficulty of dealing with the Georgetown basketball coach: “SALT 2 has less provisions than the deal you have to go through to get an interview with John Thompson.”

Trivia Time: Johnny Gee, Pittsburgh and New York Giant pitcher in 1939-46, who stood 6-9.

Quotebook

Dean Glus, West Virginia pitcher, on a tobacco-chewing ban imposed on the team: “I think it’s a good rule. I tried it once and my stomach is still laying over at 7-Eleven.”