Japanese Golfers Deadly Serious About Their Game, Doctor Says

Golf is eight times more likely than running to kill a Japanese man over 60, according to a study by Japan’s Ministry of Health.

“I’ve got a personal list of 64 people who died on the putting greens,” Keizo Kogure, a sports doctor, told the Wall Street Journal. He estimates that every year, about 4,750 golfers take the fairway to heaven.

By the way, Kogure is the author of a book, “How to Die Early by Playing Golf.”

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Trivia time: Who was the last National League player to hit 50 or more home runs in a season?

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No jalopy: Winners in the World Track Championships starting Aug. 13 in Stuttgart, Germany, will get a new Mercedes as a prize.

“You can’t pay bills with a Mercedes,” sprinter Michael Johnson told USA Today.

Since a Mercedes is worth $30,000 or more, has Johnson ever considered its resale value?

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Why worry? Sparky Anderson of the Detroit Tigers told Dave Anderson of the New York Times his philosophy as a manager:

“I think my whole secret as a manager has been, I was never afraid to lose my job. I tell other managers, ‘Don’t even think about what’s going on upstairs. You can’t stop ‘em if they want to fire you. Just do the best job you can.’ ”

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Raider intrigue: Todd Christensen, the former Raider tight end and now an NBC announcer, talking to Chet Coppock of the Chicago Sun-Times on the Marcus Allen-Al Davis feud: “It all started in ’83 when we won the Super Bowl. In certain circles, this was considered to be Allen’s team. Davis resented that and was extremely jealous. I guess (Davis) never liked Allen’s style on or off the field.”

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Loose change: Houston Astro owner Drayton McLane, on learning that the highest-paid college presidents make about $500,000 per year:

“I pay that for a backup shortstop.”

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Out of the kitchen: Bob Agnew, program director at KNBR, the San Francisco Giants’ flagship radio station, was asked by Andrew Bagnato of the Chicago Tribune to comment on Sherry Davis, the Giants’ female public-address announcer.

“She’s a professional voice,” Agnew said. “It isn’t like she stepped in from doing the dishes.”

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No easy trick: Former Detroit Tiger Manager Mayo Smith on the Baltimore Orioles’ infield of 1969, Brooks Robinson, Mark Belanger, Davey Johnson and Boog Powell:

“Trying to hit the ball through the Baltimore infield was like trying to throw a hamburger through a brick wall.”

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Walkman: From “Baseball’s Even Greater Insults:” Sportswriter Frank Luksa: “Mitch Williams has walked more people than a seeing-eye dog.”

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On this date: The Cleveland Indians purchased Larry Doby from the Newark Eagles of the Negro National League, making him the first black player in the American League.

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Trivia answer: George Foster of Cincinnati, with 52 in 1977.

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Quotebook: Sacramento King General Manager Jerry Reynolds on Shawn Bradley: “He’s 7-6, and people don’t start shrinking until their 60s. At 7-6, you might slow down, but you won’t get any shorter.”