Money Comes Before Pride These Days

George Steinbrenner is considering making the film, “Pride of the Yankees,” required viewing for all future Yankees.

Steinbrenner, the principal owner of the New York Yankees, said he has seen the film--with Gary Cooper playing Lou Gehrig--about 25 times.

“If Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth were playing today, and I had to pay them, they’d be my partners,” Steinbrenner said. “They’d own half the team! That’s the truth. That’s the only way I could afford to pay these guys.”

No, George, you would have traded them.

Myth buster: Jerome Holtzman of the Chicago Tribune writes that Gehrig’s record of playing in 2,130 consecutive games wasn’t as impressive as many believe.

“Gehrig was taken out eight times for a pinch-hitter, four times for a pinch-runner, and was relieved at first base in 64 other games,” Holtzman writes. “He didn’t finish 76 games. On several occasions, he made only a token appearance.”

Trivia time: Sandy Koufax is one of three major league pitchers who have won the Cy Young Award, been a World Series MVP and pitched a no-hitter. Who are the other two?

A real test: Seattle Mariner catcher Dave Valle, who once batted .194 in a season, to teammate Ken Griffey Jr.: “It’s easy to hit .300 with your swing. Try doing it with mine.”

Get real: When the Chicago Bulls tried to trade Stacey King to the Sacramento Kings last summer, the Kings showed little interest, according to the Chicago Tribune.

“But he has two championship rings,” Bull General Manager Jerry Krause protested.

Said Jerry Reynolds, the Kings’ general manager: “So does your trainer.”

Yank bashing: Pete Sampras’ four-set victory over Jim Courier in the men’s singles final at Wimbledon didn’t impress the British press. Sample headlines:

The Daily Mirror: “It’s Pete Samprazzzzz. Bored on the Fourth of July.”

The Daily Star: “Sam-Prazzzzz. Big Bore Pete is Chimply the Best.”

They obviously miss John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors.

Nature lover? Al McGuire suggests that Phil Jackson, coach of the Chicago Bulls, should take a sabbatical because he looks tired.

However, McGuire told Chet Coppock of the Chicago Sun-Times that Jackson’s off-season retreat in Montana isn’t the answer.

“I mean, who the hell can live in Montana?” McGuire asked. “The first 48 hours are beautiful. But after that, the mountains don’t move.”

Snooze time: From Gene Collier of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: “Less than a year now until the cable dawn of the Golf Channel. How could I make that up? Televised golf 24 hours a day.

“I’m sure it’s been test marketed, but personally, if my TV had two channels and one was the Golf Channel and the other was TBN (the Boccie Network), I wouldn’t see much golf.”

Trivia answer: Bob Gibson and Bret Saberhagen.

Quotebook: Jim Fregosi, manager of the Philadelphia Phillies, on his team’s propensity to play--and win--close games: “I don’t believe it builds character. I believe it builds ulcers.”