Kings Are Old News to Oiler Owner

Peter Pocklington, the outspoken and oft-criticized owner of the Edmonton Oilers, the same guy who said that Wayne Gretzky had faked the tears when Pocklington traded him to the Kings, wasn’t exactly Mr. Cordiality when the Oilers eliminated the Kings in the first round of the playoffs.

Maybe it was the presence on the Kings as such former Oilers as Gretzky, Jari Kurri, Charlie Huddy, Marty McSorley and Paul Coffey that prompted Pocklington to say what he did about the Kings after the Oilers had won the series in six games.

“Their team goes beyond aging--it’s geriatric,” Pocklington said.

Trivia time: Which major league pitcher has the longest current streak of starts without a victory?

Where’s Archie?The New York Rangers defeated the New Jersey Devils in the playoffs, but there was a subplot. Claude Lemieux of the Devils called Tie Domi of the Rangers a “melon head.” Incensed, Domi refused to shake hands with Lemieux after the series. Instead, Domi called Lemieux “jughead.”

George Vecsey of the New York Times wondered if Domi has looked in the mirror lately: “His head is a rather neat oval shape, and in its current shaven condition, it does resemble a rather rugged melon, perhaps a sculpture of a melon. ‘Melon with Eyebrows,’ by Henry Moore.”

Now you know: In Cleveland for their playoff series against the Cavaliers, the Boston Celtics changed from their usual hotel, where a tattoo show was scheduled.

Now you know II: Nolan Ryan sometimes eats vanilla ice cream and chili beans to soothe his digestive tract and calm his nerves before pitching.

More Sugar?Is Sugar Ray Leonard coming back? Maybe so, according to Ron Borges of the Boston Globe, who reported that rumors are flying about a return to the ring by Leonard. A potential opponent is recently crowned WBA light-heavyweight champion Iran Barkley.

Leonard’s supporters deny the rumors and say Leonard is only in the gym to stay in shape.

Give us your francs: The Tour de France is sending reporters covering the event full-color brochures of where to dine and where to shop.

Hot corner: Cal State Fullerton third baseman Phil Nevin is on the short list of potential No. 1 picks in the baseball draft. The Astros have the top choice.

Bat him cleanup: Relief pitcher Chuck McElroy of the Chicago Cubs finished April with two extra-base hits, one more than the combined totals of Boston Red Sox sluggers Mike Greenwell and Jack Clark.

History lesson: Thirty years ago this week, 100 newspaper sports editors selected Bob Cousy as the greatest basketball player of all time.

FYI: An NCAA study of Title IX revealed that in Division I schools, male coaches guided men’s teams 98.6% of the time and female coaches led women’s teams 44.6% of the time, according to the Amateur Athletic Foundation newsletter.

Name game: What are the Tribe, Blitz, Marauders, Cougars, Outlaws, Lightning, Miners, Aces, Rattlesnakes and Pioneers? Nicknames of the teams in the Professional Spring Football League, which never got off the ground.

Trivia answer: Danny Jackson of the Cubs, 15.

Quotebook: Pittsburgh Pirate coach Rich Donnelly: “All these guys eating wheat germ and granola . . . maybe they should mix in some nachos and chili dogs.”