Here’s a Case They Did Not Jump On

More than two years after Italian long jumper Giovanni Evangelisti was wrongfully awarded a bronze medal at the World Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Rome, the Italian Athletic Federation’s disciplinary committee has exonerated all upper level federation officials of responsibility in the case.

But the committee suspended official Tommaso Ajello for life, official Salvatore Nicitra and meet director Marco Mannesi for three years, and revoked the license of meet judge Salvatore Nicitra.

Evangelisti was given a jump of 27 feet 10 inches--about two feet farther than he actually jumped.

Gianni Gola, federation president, said Saturday: “You certainly couldn’t say that justice has been swift here.”

Trivia time: On the average, which American League team played the quickest games last season?

Nothing to hide: Former USC safety Ronnie Lott of San Francisco gives this perspective on the possibility of the 49ers repeating as world champions: “You look at the Lakers, and they talked about doing it. They didn’t hide it. They made up their minds to do it, and said, ‘Let’s talk about it.’ You can’t achieve anything in life if you don’t want it, right?

“I spoke to some Lakers when they played the Warriors this year, and they said when it gets down to (crunch) time, you’ve got to believe. We’ve kept that in mind.”

Last add 49ers: Tight end Steve Jordan of the underachieving Minnesota Vikings, contrasting tightfisted General Manager Mike Lynn with generous 49er owner Eddie DeBartolo: “You look at a team like the San Francisco 49ers. They seem to be very happy, and look at the success they’ve had. You might think that would be the way to go.”

The Vikings’ Doug Martin said of Lynn’s penchant for forcing holdouts by his stars: “I think there has been so much damage done to a lot of these players, it’s beyond repair. There is no way you can fix it.”

No justice: Terry Crisp, coach of the Calgary Flames, chose Calgary right wing Joe Mullen, who had 15 goals, ahead of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Gary Leeman, who had 28, for the Campbell Conference All-Stars.

Crisp said: “This is a vote of confidence for Joey Mullen. We know what he’s done in the past and we know he can do it again. But remember, when the All-Star game (Sunday in Pittsburgh) is over, I have to walk back in the dressing room and face my own players.”

Spirit of (18)76: Southland-based Grand Canyon was the leading vote-getter in individual balloting for the Eclipse Award for top 2-year-old, 84-82, but wound up as the runner-up to Rhythm because of the way the voting is structured. Writes Dale Austin of the Baltimore Sun: “That makes Rhythm the Rutherford B. Hayes of the 2-year-old set.”

Trivia answer: The Cleveland Indians, whose games averaged 2 hours 38 minutes.

Quotebook: CBS analyst John Madden on how to stop the 49ers’ Joe Montana: “You cheat. You play 12, 13 guys. You bring in paratroopers and drop ‘em from a blimp or something.”