U.S. Provides a Roll Model for Cyclists

Bob Roll of Pleasant Hill, Calif., was something of a character in European cycling circles, says Davis Phinney in his book “Training for Cycling,” co-written with his wife, Connie Carpenter.

At the 1989 Tour of Italy, Roll, competing for the American 7-Eleven team, reached the start of a stage well before the other competitors. While sitting around the piazza in snakeskin warm-up tights, European reporters gathered around.

He told them that he was part Indian, lived in a tepee, and hunted deer in the winter.

“There he sat, this outlandish individual with a giant feather for an earring, spewing this incredible story, and the jaded cycling press just lapped it up,” Phinney writes.

Trivia time: Who was the first American Indian to play major league baseball?

Whatever works: Bobby Knight, Indiana coach, on how he helped his team end a 37% shooting slump before a 94-55 victory over Eastern Illinois during the first round of the NCAA tournament: “To get over the mental problems that we’ve had with shooting, we’ve not allowed our players to eat since the Purdue game and we’ve only allowed them to sleep two hours a night.”

Fresh Air: “I know you’re as relieved as I am,” writes Baltimore Sun columnist Mike Littwin on the fact Michael Jordan will compete in the 1992 Olympics.

“You were already upset about this recession and the check kiting and then the Fergy-Prince Andrew news hit, but, now, be-like-Mike Jordan has made it OK.”

Scaling back: From an LPGA news release: “Laura Davies is proud to report that she has shed 42 pounds by virtue of dieting, and has a goal of losing even more weight.”

Strike one: Two exhibitions to showcase baseball at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami last weekend proved to be embarrassing when the teams discovered the facility did not have bullpens.

Sure-fire approach: Louisiana State Coach Dale Brown told star center Shaquille O’Neal to wear a tear-away jersey to discourage opponents from grabbing his uniform to prevent him from moving.

Names in vain: Runner’s World did its Chris Berman imitation in a recent issue. Some samples: John (Leaves Without A) Treacy, Lasse (Come Home) Viren, Rod (Mason) Dixon and (A Fish Called) Wanda Panfil.

Double player: Dick Groat, a shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1950s and 1960s, was a basketball star at Duke.

Leaving a sour taste: The Baltimore Sun’s John Eisenberg on the off-season: “Baseball’s winter: balsamic vinegar in a glass of lemonade. Just a guess, but even the most ardent Rotisserian probably finds it unpleasant.”

Not asking for much: Bill Byrne, Oregon athletic director, on what qualities he wanted in the Ducks’ new basketball coach: “I want him to be able to walk on water and not scare the fish.”

Trivia answer: Louis Francis Sockalexis of Penobscot, Me. He was a rookie for the Cleveland Spiders in 1897.

Quotebook: Stanford swimmer Summer Sanders on being romantically linked to Melvin Stewart, world-record holder in the 200 butterfly: “I just try to stay out of it--but it’s hard to do when you’re one of the people involved.”