Flu and the Angels Leave Autry Ailing

Gene Autry had a touch of the flu Monday . . . and a bad case of the Angels, writes The Times’ Orange County columnist, Gene Wojciechowski.

“I think it is slipping away earlier than I would like,” Autry said. “If you look at it . . . we could have a hot streak here and be right in the thick of it. I don’t think it’s time to push the panic button--yet.

“I guess that I’m like a lot of other people, like the people in the front office, I’m disappointed, naturally,” Autry said. “On paper, we’ve got a pretty good ballclub.”

Add Autry: No Angel is considered untouchable, Autry said. Not first baseman Wally Joyner. Not pitcher Mike Witt. Not outfielder Devon White. “If it would be the right deal and it would help my ballclub, I would consider it,” he said.

“We’re not giving up on Wally Joyner,” Autry said. “He’s a lot better player than he has shown so far. Wally Joyner is not on the trading blocks at all. He’s young and he’ll snap out of it.”

Last add Autry: One person who can rest easy--for now--is Manager Cookie Rojas.

“I think Cookie has done as well as we could expect,” Autry said. “He came in there a couple of days before the season opened and he really didn’t have a chance to put in a full spring training. I think he’s done very well. On the other hand, you can’t expect Cookie to hit for them, pitch for them.

“I can’t blame Cookie.”

Reports that Bobby Knight intends to remain as Indiana University’s basketball coach came as wonderful news to members of the New Albany (Ind.) High School band.

This is a high school band that didn’t need another major problem.

The band, trying to raise money for new uniforms, has been trying to sell about 3,000 stoneware mugs commemorating the Hoosiers’ 1987 NCAA basketball championship.

“They’ll either be collectors’ items or white elephants,” band booster Wendy Yellina said, shortly before learning Knight will stay at Indiana and not move on to the University of New Mexico.

On each $4 mug is a picture of Knight and former Indiana guard Steve Alford. Knight’s departure would have been a second major blow to the mug campaign. Delivery was delayed for months, until March 18--the day the 1988 Hoosiers were knocked out of the NCAA tournament.

That defeat made folks sullen in New Albany. “Everybody said, ‘See me next basketball season,’ ” Yellina said.

Todd Welborn, relief pitcher for the Jackson (Miss.) Mets, grew up on a North Carolina tobacco farm, but doesn’t chew tobacco. Or bubble gum. Or sunflower seeds.

He chews dirt.

“I dip dirt,” he said. “I don’t like tobacco because it causes diseases. Dirt is free, and no one bums it off you.”

Welborn said almost any dirt will do, but that he prefers red clay. “Packs well,” he explained.

When Oakland rookie Walt Weiss hit his first major league home run Sunday, the ball was sent to the Oakland dugout by the woman who wound up with the ball. She asked that it be autographed--by Mark McGwire.

Nine years ago today: Dave Kingman of the Chicago Cubs hit three home runs and Mike Schmidt of the Philadelphia Phillies hit two as the Phillies beat the Cubs, 23-22, in 10 innings at Wrigley Field.

There were 11 home runs, 50 hits and 109 at-bats.

Indy race car driver Tom Sneva was asked by reporters for a comment on a Turn 4 oil slick that Mario Andretti said affected his car in time trials over the weekend.

“I didn’t see any problems,” Sneva said. “The only distraction was in Turn 3. A blonde got my attention.”

Quotebook

American League umpire Joe Brinkman on why an ump must never hope to be liked: “If (Earl) Weaver saw you on the street, he’d still think you were a bad guy, the scum of the earth.”