Elway Is Known for The Drive, but He Also Can Use the Driver

John Elway, playing in the same group with Chi Chi Rodriguez in the pro-am of the Doug Sanders Celebrity tournament, was asked if Chi Chi gave him any tips.

“He told me to hit it hard,” Elway said.

Elway did. So hard, in fact, he was outdriving Rodriguez.

Finally, on the 17th hole, Rodriguez said, “OK, John Elway, I’ve been holding back all day. I’m going to give this one my Sunday swing.”

Chi Chi hit it a ton, but Elway hit it a ton and a half.

Trivia time: What three members of the Atlanta Braves hit 40 or more home runs in 1973? Are you ready?: From Tom Weir of USA Today: “Today’s frightening thought for anyone with more ears than Van Gogh: Think about what will happen if ABC pairs Jim Valvano with that other non-stop voicebox, Dick Vitale.”

Add ABC: Said Brent Musburger: “Whether I work with Jimmy or Dick, I’ve always felt Jimmy was a natural. He’s got a great personality for basketball. I just don’t want to be eating Italian food every night.”

Thumper’s choices: Said Hall of Fame slugger Ted Williams when asked his favorite hitters: “I love Jose Canseco. I love Mark McGwire. They rip the ball. They ain’t pussyfooting around. Wade Boggs and Ken Griffey are great talents, but I like to see the guy who is a little fuller swinger. OK, that kind of hitter misses once in a while, but when he hits them, things really happen.

“I enjoy Bo Jackson, but boy oh boy, some of the things he swings at nobody else would swing at. I still love Kirby Puckett. Kent Hrbek, too. He rips.”

Add Jackson: Said Boston reliever Rob Murphy after giving up a homer to the Kansas City outfielder: “That was my patented hanging slider. I’ve got it down pat. I’m even going to throw batting practice for the press, so you, too, can hit it.”

Big dream: Philadelphia 76er owner Harold Katz, on Michael Jordan: “My first thought is how to get him. If we had him, we’d beat every team that ever lived.”

Add Jordan: Dennis Grapenthin, marketing director for Wilson Sporting Goods, told of a company convention attended by Jordan: “I think one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen involved Michael.

“There was a question-and-answer session going on. A gentleman stood up and said, ‘Mr. Jordan, I don’t have a question. I just wanted to thank you for being such an excellent example for the youth of this country.’

“He sat down, and 700 executives gave Michael a standing ovation. It was absolutely spontaneous.”

Popular kid: The Toronto Blue Jays’ John Olerud, rookie designated hitter from Washington State, set a club record when he requested 336 tickets for family and friends in Seattle.

Trivia answer: Davey Johnson (43), Darrell Evans (42), Henry Aaron (40).

Quotebook: Deion Sanders, sidestepping the question when asked if he preferred football or baseball: “Thirty-years-old, I want to be out of sports, anyway, so I just might grab a Lakers jersey and run down the court with Magic Johnson.”