Hastings Is About to Become Famous for His Long Journey

Life magazine has assigned two photographers and a writer to follow the Denver Nuggets. The magazine isn’t interested in the team, only in much-traveled center Scott Hastings.

The article to be published in the near future will be titled “Journeyman.” Hastings has played for Atlanta, Detroit, Miami and now Denver.

“I’m honored,” Hastings said. “It’s like they’re paying homage to the fact that, for 11 years, I’ve been invisible.”

Trivia time: Eddie Anderson of the Raiders returned an intercepted pass 102 yards to a touchdown against Miami on Monday night. What is the NFL record?

Turner’s style: Peter Gammons of the Boston Globe, commenting on Ted Turner, owner of the Atlanta Braves:

“To understand Turner is to understand the way he sails: If everyone else goes offshore, he tacks inshore, and he either wins by a half hour or he’s the first one to a gin and tonic.

“In baseball, he’s won by a half hour, because for the next few years, every night he’s got a great shot at legitimate entertainment with Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz and Steve Avery.”

FYI: In 1949, the Indianapolis Olympians of the NBA were composed of players from the same college team, Kentucky. Ralph Beard, Cliff Barker, Alex Groza, Wallace (Wah Wah) Jones and Joe Holland were the starting five, with Jack Parkinson and Mal McMullen as reserves.

Al’s world: Al McGuire, television analyst and former Marquette basketball coach, has visions of some changes in the game in an interview with Inside Sports magazine:

“There will be a composite height rule. No team will be allowed to have more than 32 feet on the court at any a time. You start four seven-footers, the fifth guy has to be a jockey.

“There will be refs sitting on top of the backboards, off to the side on an angle so they won’t interfere with shots. Players are so big and take up so much room now, zebras go more by sound and situation than sight.”

Fashion crisis: Atlanta Falcon cornerback Deion Sanders recently had to leave a game for a couple of plays when his earring fell out. He had to have the Falcons’ equipment man put it back in.

Birdie barrage: From “Great Moments & Dubious Achievements in Golf History:”

Dr. Alcorn, of Wentworth Falls, Australia, was playing the ninth hole of the Leura Golf Club in Wentworth in 1928. He hit his second shot as a player on the other side of the fairway hit his.

The balls collided in midair and both fell into the cup for the only double birdie in golf history.

Trivia answer: 103 yards by San Diego’s Vencie Glenn against Denver on Nov. 29, 1987.

Quotebook: Larry Guest, of the Orlando Sentinel, on the Heisman Trophy balloting: “I was tempted to split my first-place vote between Johnny Majors’ heart surgeon and the castrated bull at Mississippi State, easily the two most important figures in college football this season.”