Lasorda Won’t Let Gibson Be a Grouch

Fears that Kirk Gibson would be a clubhouse grouch this year are being dispelled by Dodger coach Bill Russell, who says Manager Tom Lasorda won’t let it happen.

“Tommy has a knack of making everyone feel at home,” Russell told the New York Times. “He’s evened loosened up Kirk a little bit. Kirk probably isn’t used to a guy telling him jokes, getting on him.

“Tommy has this game after our regular games where he pitches to the hitters, and for days he was telling Kirk he’s going to strike him out. He said, so everybody could hear, ‘I’d rather get Gibson than eat a plate of spaghetti. If I had one wish, I’d want to collar Gibson.’

“Kirk loved it. He was screaming and kicking and laughing.”

Toronto’s George Bell has been fighting a proposed move from left field to designated hitter, and now Lloyd Moseby says he doesn’t want to move from center field to replace Bell in left.

Moseby: “Move me to Egypt or Japan, but not to left.”

Today’s Quiz: What’s wrong with that commercial in which Tim McCarver says, “Even if you have to say Biancalana to Beniquez to Balboni . . . ?

If McCarver is alluding to a double play, shortstop-second baseman Buddy Biancalana likely would be the middle man, not third baseman-first baseman-outfielder Juan Beniquez.

When they played with first baseman Steve Balboni last year at Kansas City--the only year they’ve been together--only in two games were all three in the field at the same time. Neither time did they combine on a double play.

“I guess it could have happened in spring training, when everybody was moving around,” conceded Biancalana, “but I don’t remember it.”

Trivia Time: If Arizona faces Kansas State in the NCAA basketball final, what will they have in common with Stanford and Dartmouth in 1941-42 and Kentucky and Kansas State in 1950-51? (Answer to follow.)

Dean Smith would like to be singing the national anthem today before the Loyola Marymount-North Carolina game. After all, he has lots of experience at it.

That’s not the Dean Smith who coaches North Carolina, however.

Attorney Dean Smith, Loyola Marymount ’84 and Loyola Marymount Law ‘87, has been singing the anthem before the Lions’ home games for the last five seasons.

Said Indiana Coach Bob Knight, interrupting a reporter who wanted to know about his feud with Louisiana State Coach Dale Brown: “When you ask questions about Dale Brown, you should direct them to a psychiatrist.”

Trivia Answer: Matching nicknames. It was the Indians of Stanford and Dartmouth, the Wildcats of Kentucky and Kansas State, and now it could be Wildcats again. Note: Stanford is now the Cardinal and Dartmouth the Big Green.

Quotebook

Jack Ramsay, coach of the slumping Indiana Pacers, to a hotel desk clerk who asked if he could be of service: “Can you rebound?”