This Didn’t Go Over Well With Rose

Pete Rose helped skipper a power boat to victory in the Miller Offshore Grand Prix at Virginia Beach, Va., but the victory wasn’t as glorious as winning a baseball game with one of his trademark belly slides.

Rose got a bellyache and had to be rescued by the Coast Guard when his boat began taking on water. The boat didn’t even cross the finish line, but nevertheless, Rose teamed up with two Virginia Beach men to give their 2,000-horsepower boat, The Hit King, the Super Vee title.

The Hit King, named in honor of Rose, won because it had made more laps around the course than the only other boat in its class. Rose and teammates Alan Fuentes and Dick Ornstein had to be taken off the boat when the Hit King began taking on water with less than two laps remaining. Rose became nauseated and vomited, and the boat had to be bailed out by the Coast Guard.

“I got sick when we stopped,” Rose said. “But I always get seasick when I get on a ship.”

*

For crying out loud: Bulgarian sisters Katerina Maleeva and Manuela Maleeva are regarded as whiners on the women’s tennis circuit.

According to Newsday, they are known among the other players as “Boo” and “Hoo.”

*

Bargain package? UCLA will open the season Saturday night against Cal State Fullerton, a mismatch of football programs on different levels.

The fans would get more for their money, say, if the Bruins played CS Fullerton and CS Northridge on the same day.

In 1933 and ‘34, USC opened the season by playing Occidental and Whittier in a doubleheader. The Trojans divided the squad for the games.

The result wasn’t too interesting, though. USC won both years by a combined score of 144-14.

*

Trivia time: The $1.5-million Vantage Championship is the Senior PGA Tour’s richest event. Who won the inaugural in 1987?

*

North of the border: Seven of 10 Canadians believe fighting has no place in the NHL, according to a federal study. The poll also indicated the NHL’s television audience might have been higher if there were less on-ice violence. For almost one-third of those surveyed, a cut in violence would have made them more likely to watch the NHL on TV. Regular TV hockey viewers were evenly split on whether fighting had a place in hockey.

*

What price glory: Art Monk, the Washington Redskins’ all-pro receiver who turns 35 this season, says he still sees an osteopath and physical therapist after each game “to get my back straightened up and get the knots out of my legs.”

*

Trivia answer: Al Geiberger.

*

Gridiron omen: If recent history is any indicator, the Denver Broncos’ 17-13 comeback victory over the Raiders promises another playoff season for Denver. Over the last 10 seasons, Denver has won its opener six times and gone to the playoffs each time. Each of the four times Denver has opened with a loss it has failed to qualify for the postseason.

*

Quotebook: Jack Benny, on golf: “Give me golf clubs, fresh air and a beautiful partner--and you can keep my golf clubs and the fresh air.”