TENNIS / THOMAS BONK : Carl Chang Gets a Job--as Michael’s Coach

Coach Carl? When Michael Chang parted ways with Phil Dent a week ago, who became the new coach of the No. 11 player in the world? It was none other than Carl Chang, his brother, who has never coached in his life, possibly because he was too busy graduating from the University of California with a degree in the political economics of industrial societies.

“I think it’s a team that can work,” said Carl, who does not see his new position as temporary. “But if (Michael) wants to look elsewhere, I would have absolutely no hard feelings.”

Dent become the third former Chang coach in two years, following Jose Higueras and Brian Gottfried, who were provided by the United States Tennis Assn. The Changs--Michael, father Joe and mother Betty--hired Dent nearly a year ago with the idea of helping to develop Michael’s serve.

Michael’s description of why he parted with Dent differed from Dent’s version. “I think it’s difficult when you have a wife and two kids and you’re gone for six weeks at a time,” Chang said of Dent. “It’s not something that was bitter.”

Dent said he left because he felt he was not being allowed to do his job because of interference, which he said came from outside influences. Dent also said that his financial arrangements with the Changs were a factor.

In any event, the Changs move on. Actually, coaching Michael has always remained largely a family affair, because of Joe Chang’s continuing influence. Betty Chang has traveled with Michael since he turned pro, and Carl has joined them whenver his schoolwork permitted.

Now, armed with his degree, Coach Carl is already mapping strategy. “Our plan is to try to continue to work on his serve,” he said. “And two, to be more aggressive, not to be a serve-and-volleyer, but to come in a little more.”

Listing: Gabriela Sabatini is one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world for 1991, according to People magazine. Sabatini is one of only three sports figures listed. Michael Jordan and Kirk McCaskill are the others.

38 special: What makes Jimmy run? Jimmy Connors, who’ll turn 39 on Sept. 2, is getting ready for his 21st U.S. Open by playing TeamTennis for the Strings, who meet Newport Beach tonight at the Forum.

Why is he still around at his age? Connors said it’s a short list.

“I’ve got two reasons I play,” he said. “One, I like it. And two, I like the competition against the younger guys. Most of the people that sit up there in the stands now are my age. They grew up with me along the way.

“They’ve liked me, they haven’t liked me, but they still come out because I’m there. They understand now that, hey, this is not easy. This isn’t an easy thing to do to go out and play against somebody who’s 19 years old and twice as fast and twice as strong. I still like breaking my back out there.”

As for his involvement in TeamTennis, Connors said he felt a loyalty to founder Billie Jean King, who offered him work and a two-year contract last fall when his wrist was in a cast and his tennis future was in doubt.

“Billie Jean took a chance on me,” Connors said. “Her goal is for the sports scene to be baseball, football, basketball, then TeamTennis. If she could accomplish that, I think she could die happy.”

Revolving door: It’s getting so you can’t tell your Dukes without a scorecard. After 11 days of the TeamTennis season the Newport Beach team has changed players more often than George Steinbrenner changed Yankee managers.

Here’s what has happened to the roster so far in 11 days: Leila Meskhi pulled out because of a shoulder injury. Manon Bollegraf was named to replace her. Jorge Lozano was forced out of a match after straining his back. Carsten Huffman, a player at UC Irvine watching the match, was summoned out of the stands to replace him. Richard Lubner replaced Huffman, who had replaced Lozano. Lubner announced the next day that he could play only two matches because of other commitments. Steve Enochs replaced Lubner. Bollegraf announced that she was leaving because she had decided to play in the Federation Cup for the Netherlands. Amy Frazier replaced Bollegraf.

One to watch: Keep an eye on 18-year-old Michael Joyce of Holmby Hills, a recent graduate of St. Monica’s High School in Santa Monica, who plans to turn pro by the U.S. Open. Joyce, who reached the quarterfinals of the French Open junior division and the junior final at Wimbledon, has tried to establish himself quickly as one of the finest junior players in the world.

Next for Joyce is a shot at the pros, which he is already getting ready for. “All the (management) agencies are like calling me up all the time,” he said. “It’s a tough decision to make.” Apparently, Advantage International and IMG have the inside track.

A man called Nasty: When Ilie Nastase was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, he was relieved that the selection procedure was not based on temper.

“They induct you because of what you did,” Nastase told the Associated Press. “If they inducted by personality, I’d be the first one not to be inducted, that’s for sure.”

Lights, camera: The scene for Monica Seles’ news conference last week in Mahwah, N.J., was a classic--200 reporters, dozens of photographers, 16 microphones and one barking dog. Yes, even Seles’ dog, Astro, would not miss the explanation of why the world’s top-ranked woman tennis player dropped out of sight after withdrawing from Wimbledon just three days before the tournament started.

Said Seles: “I felt a lot of pressure, a lot of pressure inside myself. . . . I was confused. I just wasn’t ready to talk.”

She may be ready to play, though. Seles is scheduled to play for Yugoslavia in the Federation Cup next week at Nottingham, England, but she isn’t sure she will go, depending on her physical condition.

Seles is supposed to return to the Kraft Tour for the Mazda tournament July 28-Aug. 4 at LaCosta, then the Virginia Slims of Los Angeles Aug. 12-18.

Entry lists: Stephanie Rehe, Rosalyn Fairbank-Nideffer, Patty Fendick, Peanut Louie Harper and Gretchen Magers have entered the $350,000 Virginia Slims of Los Angeles tournament at the Manhattan Country Club. Seles heads the 56-player field, along with Sabatini, Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario and Mary Joe Fernandez.

Jim Pugh has accepted a wild card to enter the Volvo/Los Angeles event, which leaves promoter Bob Kramer with two more to give. Kramer said he is discussing wild cards with David Wheaton and Guy Forget. Stefan Edberg, Pete Sampras, Chang and Brad Gilbert head the field, which also includes Cristiano Caratti of Italy, Australian Todd Woodbridge and Aaron Krickstein.

Tennis notes

John McEnroe will be the host of a celebrity tournament Saturday at North Ranch Country Club in Westlake Village. The event is a fund-raiser to benefit the United Cerebral Palsy/Spastic Children’s Foundation and its Ventura County facility. Information: (818) 991-2003. . . . Stefan Edberg will take part in a benefit for the National Foundation of Wheelchair Tennis next Sunday at the Newport Beach Tennis Club. Edberg will team with another pro to take on two wheelchair players in a doubles match at 4 p.m., then play an eight-game pro set. General admission is $25. Information: (714) 361-6811. . . . The Southern California Tennis Assn. and Wilson are sponsoring a free tennis clinic for juniors next Sunday from 10:30 am. to 12:30 p.m. on the Sunset Canyon courts at UCLA. . . . Pete Sampras plans a busy schedule leading up to the U. S. Open: Montreal, Los Angeles, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, then a week off before the Open. Sampras hopes to play doubles with Edberg in the Los Angeles tournament.