Sure, but Other Than That, It Should Be a Terrific Fight

Shirley Povich, writing for the Washington Post, can’t be accused of hyping the April 19 heavyweight title fight between George Foreman and Evander Holyfield.

“Foreman, for all his knockouts of reluctant opponents, can’t fight anymore,” Povich wrote. “His movements are wooden. His punches are not telegraphed, he sends them by stagecoach.

” . . . Foreman has strength and power, but as a puncher he now takes a long windup, enabling his opponent, if he has a mind to it, to steal second base. As a boxing match it has all the elements of a farce and, on merit, could even open and close in one.”

Trivia question: It was noted here that Joe Perry is now a professional bowler. Perry once played in what was called the “million-dollar backfield” for the San Francisco 49ers in the 1950s. Who were the other backs?

Don’t ask for room service: The $400-million hotel on the northern tip of the Big Island of Hawaii, where NFL owners are meeting, doesn’t have bed-and-breakfast rates.

Rooms with an ocean view cost $365 a night (non-discount rate). Other prices include $130 for a massage and facial (at a 15% discount) and $6.95 for a hot dog.

Is mustard included?

Add hotel: Guests may also pay $65 for a half-hour swim with captive dolphins, if they win a lottery that gives them the right.

Off the cuff: Some one-liners from Chi Chi Rodriguez, who will play in the Vintage tournament starting Friday at Indian Wells, Calif.:

“Jack Nicklaus has become a legend in his spare time.”

“When I joined the Senior (PGA) Tour, I felt like I had died and been reincarnated as Arnold Palmer.”

“It’s hard for a kid to steal your hubcaps when he’s carrying your golf bag.”

Not his racket: Mats Wilander, the 1988 U.S., Australian and French Open tennis champion, is on a 17-stop concert tour as the main attraction of a six-member group called--are you ready?--Wilander.

“I’m not actually a musician,” Wilander said. “I’m going on the tour because it’s so fun.”

Instead of swinging a racket, he will be making one.

Something fishy? The outdoor writer for the Houston Chronicle is Doug Pike.

Punchline: Leonard Shapiro of the Washington Post wasn’t impressed by the work of blow-by-blow announcer Steve Albert at Monday night’s Mike Tyson-Razor Ruddock fight.

“Steve Albert is one of 3,479 Albert brothers currently working in the broadcasting business,” Shapiro wrote. “I’d have taken Fat Albert, Eddie Albert, or even Alberto Tomba over Steve.”

Trivia answer: Y.A. Tittle, Hugh McElhenny and John Henry Johnson.

Quotebook: Outfielder Andrei Tslikovsky of the Moscow Red Devils, a Soviet baseball team: “We’ve got great athletes, and now we’re learning the game. At first was (sic) pretty bad. People slid into first base and ran from home plate to third base. We lost to the Nicaraguan national team, 48-0.”