Dollar Figures Don’t Appear to Make Sense

Financial World magazine has released what it purports to be the first comprehensive study on the NFL, NHL, NBA and major league baseball in which all 102 league franchises were appraised. The so-called total dollar value was based on gross revenues, operating income and cash flow.

The New York Yankees emerged as the most valuable with a market value of $225 million. The Winnipeg Jets are the least attractive with a worth of $30 million.

The results, however, pose some rather startling comparisons. For instance, the Baltimore Orioles and Green Bay Packers are rated equal in worth to the Dodgers and Lakers, each at $200 million. And the Rams and Raiders are even, at $135 million, but both take a back seat to the Toronto Blue Jays’ $178.3 million.

And pity the poor Kings. Their $45 million ranks behind the Minnesota Timberwolves, Hartford Whalers, Sacramento Kings and even the Miami Heat.

You’d think Wayne Gretzky alone would be worth that much.

Day-night golf: Anyone interested in playing in an all-night golf tournament?

If so, the Cross Creek Arctic Open is your answer. On June 21, the longest day of the year--or the shortest night--there will enough daylight for 36 holes at the Akureyri Golf Club in Iceland, only 31 miles south of the Arctic Circle.

Tee times are available.

Trivia time: Who hit more grand slams, Babe Ruth or Hank Aaron? Is either the all-time grand slam leader?

Media problems: Bill Parcells, the retired Super Bowl-winning coach, gave Inside Sports his inside look on what it took to keep his New York Giants focused on winning:

“I fight three things every day. Division from within, our opponents, and the media--especially the media, because if I’m not vigilant the players will start to believe what’s written about them. We don’t have time for egos on the Giants.

“I don’t think anyone, including the media, really knows what players can do, what their true capabilities are.”

Double talk: Drake basketball Coach Rudy Washington has a novel way of addressing his identical twin recruits, Brent and Brett Sherrill: “When I talk to one of them, I just call him ‘Twin.’ ”

Different DQs: Chris Almond, 15, a high school sophomore from Gainesville, Fla., with a 3.8 grade-point average, shot a 74 and was medalist in a prep golf tournament that qualified him for the state final. After signing his score card, Chris took a sip of a beer that his father was drinking.

A rival coach reported it and Almond was disqualified for “unsportsmanlike conduct.”

In a high school championship track meet, a girl who threw the discus 20 feet farther than any other competitor was also disqualified.

She was found to be wearing earrings.

Trivia answer: Ruth and Aaron each hit 16 grand slams, and share fifth place overall. Lou Gehrig is the leader with 23, followed by Willie McCovey with 18.

Winning records: The Chicago Cubs won their first five games with Jim Essian as their manager. And the Iowa Cubs, the American Association team he left behind, won their first six games without him.

Quotebook: Nye Lavalle, president of the American Sports Marketing Assn., on golf’s influence in the marketing place: “Golf is America’s version of the English hunt. It is where businessmen go to communicate with one another.”