Runner Has Lots of Gall

A former Olympian who has since turned professional called meet director Al Franken before this year’s Pepsi Invitational at UCLA and asked if he could run.

“I’ve been running in all-comers meets under an assumed name,” the athlete said. “I’m in good shape.”

Franken turned him down, explaining it would violate the rules, but the athlete persisted.

“What if I run in a mask?” he asked.

Again, he was turned down, but Franken says, “I’ll admit I thought about it.”

The athlete was Willie Gault.

Wait a Minute: Said Pittsburgh catcher Junior Ortiz when asked how long he would be out after breaking his collarbone last week: “Six weeks or maybe longer. Maybe a month and a half.”

Ouch: According to George White of the Orlando Sentinel, Australia’s Jack Newton, who lost a playoff to Tom Watson in the 1975 British Open, had this to say about Nick Faldo in a British publication: “You won’t find anyone on the circuit who likes him. He has such an unfortunate manner. He’s hated in my country.

“In my view he should understand his responsibilities. It doesn’t hurt anyone to be nice, especially when you’ve got $2 million in the bank. He’s not the kind of guy I’d bother to have a drink with. We’d have nothing to say to each other.”

Trivia Time: The first ball hit completely out of Dodger Stadium was hit by Willie Stargell. Who hit the only other one? (Answer below.)

For What It’s Worth: Going into Sunday’s game, the normal nine starters for the Boston Red Sox had averages of .358, .344, .326, .325, .306, .302, .293, .277 and .275.

Said outfielder Mike Greenwell: “That’s better than my high school team.”

Philadelphia pitcher Don Carman, hitting .024, was asked if he was having trouble seeing the ball.

“I’m seeing the ball real good,” he said. “I just can’t hit it.”

Trivia Answer: Willie Stargell. The Pittsburgh slugger hit the first off Alan Foster in 1969 and the second off Andy Messersmith in 1973. The first traveled over the right-field pavilion and landed 506 feet 6 inches away. The second hit the right-field pavilion roof and landed 470 feet away.

Add Stargell: He told the New York Times that when he was growing up in Alameda the kids used to play stickball down by the railroad tracks.

“I once cleared 25 boxcars,” he said. “They tell me it’s still the record in Alameda.

Quotebook

Connie Chillemi, on the narrow fairways at Bethesda Country Club, scene of the LPGA tournament at Washington: “This course is so tight it squeaks.”