One Detail Missing--Accuracy

Sailors at the U.S. Olympic trials at Newport, R.I., receive a detailed wind and weather briefing from Navy Lt. Alan Foster each morning before leaving the beach.

“Trouble is,” says Flying Dutchman skipper Ron Rosenberg of Long Beach, “the forecasts haven’t been right yet. We’ve done better just listening to Willard Scott.”

Scott is the weatherman on NBC’s “Today” show.

Pouring-it-on dept.: Gaylord Perry was pitching to Al Oliver in the old-timers All-Star game Sunday at Cincinnati when Oliver asked the umpire to inspect the ball.

That didn’t stop Perry. Before the next pitch, he poured a cup of water over the ball.

That didn’t stop Oliver. He whacked it for a home run.

Spaced Out: From Marty Noble of Newsday: “When Philadelphia Manager Lee Elia announced the promotion of veteran pitcher Bill Scherrer from the minors, he called him Wally Schirra.”

Trivia Time: What do Terry Francona of Cleveland, Buddy Bell of Houston and Bob Boone of the Angels have in common? (Answer below.)

From Cleveland reliever Doug Jones, who depends more on deception than speed: “I think there’s an unwritten rule that a stopper has to throw 170 m.p.h. or have a trick pitch.

“They like to see somebody who looks good, throws it by people. They feel more comfortable with someone who can do that or give up a 700-foot moonshot.

“With me, you don’t know what you’re getting. I give them heart surges and acid indigestion.”

Back-to-the-drawing-board dept.: Said co-leader Peter Jacobsen Saturday after shooting 67-65-69 in the first three rounds of the PGA tournament at Williamsburg, Va.: “I’m planning on the 69 being my highest round of the week.”

He closed with a 73.

For the Record: Scott Ullger, not Phil Regan, is the manager of the Visalia Oaks. Regan is a scout for the Dodgers.

From Chi Chi Rodriguez, crediting a 60-year-old putter he bought in Dallas for a subpar round: “You got to see that putter to believe it. It’s four days older than dirt. It squeaks when I use it.”

Richard Justice of the Washington Post, on the strange doings in the baseball world: “It’s a season when Dwight Gooden has as many home runs as Terry Kennedy and as many RBI as Leon Durham and Buddy Bell. When Jack Morris has more balks than victories and the American League’s most productive catcher has been Dave Valle.”

3 Years Ago Today: On July 11, 1985, Nolan Ryan of the Houston Astros became the first pitcher in major league history to reach the 4,000-strikeout mark when he fanned Danny Heep of the New York Mets on three pitches leading off the sixth inning. The Astros beat the Mets, 4-3, in 12 innings on Bill Doran’s fifth hit of the game.

Atlanta Falcons’ linebacker coach Chuck Clausen, asked about first round draft choice Aundray Bruce from Auburn, told the New York Times: “This guy could be great, but it will probably be tough living up to all the expectations. There was one advantage Lawrence Taylor had. He didn’t have to be the next Lawrence Taylor.”

Trivia Answer: Their fathers--Tito Francona, Gus Bell, Ray Boone--all played in the major leagues.

Quotebook

Orlando Magic General Manager Pat Williams, recalling his resignation as general manager of the Philadelphia 76ers, owned by Harold Katz: “I wanted to give him something to symbolize our relationship. However, I could not get my ulcer framed.”