It Might Take More Than This for Chicago to Shed Its Image

Robert Markus of the Chicago Tribune, writing on the World Cup’s opening game between Germany and Bolivia last Friday at Soldier Field changing the city’s image:

“No longer will the mention of Chicago in a foreign land bring the automatic response of an arm pointed like a machine gun and a gleeful: ‘Al Capone, boom, boom.’ ”

Don’t be too sure, Bob.

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Gravy job: Nick Canepa in the San Diego Union-Tribune: “The guy with the best job during the (World) Cup works for Associated Press.

“His job is to send a bulletin out after every goal. Not a busy guy. They hired the Maytag repairman to do it.”

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Trivia time: Who were the Los Angeles Toros, Wolves, Aztecs, Skyhawks and Heat, the Southern California Lazers and California Sunshine and Surf?

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Triple your fun: Said shortstop Ozzie Guillen of the Chicago White Sox, who believes that a triple is more exciting than a home run:

“The home run is over quickly. Bang, it’s gone. But when a guy is trying for a triple, the fans are running with him, step by step.”

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Boring? Boris Becker, three-time Wimbledon champion, commenting to the London Daily Telegraph on the lack of personalities in the game:

“Most of the players now are like machines. They show nothing. The crowds want to see stars, but the trouble is, there are very few.”

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Add tennis: Said Pete Sampras, defending Wimbledon champion: “When people come to see me play, they are going to see me let my racket do the talking. I am not there to be a stand-up comedian.”

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Show biz: Deion Sanders of the Cincinnati Reds recently invited his friend, rap star Hammer, to join the team in a workout.

“A lot of players bring tapes and CDs to the park,” Red General Manager Jim Bowden said. “Deion brings the actual artist.”

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Food notebook: Good news for Wimbledon tennis fans: The price of strawberries and cream is the same as last year, $2.25 a serving.

More than 23 tons of strawberries and more than 10,000 pints of fresh cream will be consumed during the two weeks of play that began Monday.

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Hat bet: If the Houston Rockets win the NBA championship, New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani has to wear a Stetson for a day. If the New York Knicks win, Houston Mayor Bob Lanier has to wear a fedora for a day.

A fedora?

“That’s the hat worn by business people in New York,” Giuliani said. “I wear one.”

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Looking back: On this day in 1964, Jim Bunning of the Philadelphia Phillies pitched a 6-0 perfect game against the New York Mets.

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Trivia answer: They were all outdoor soccer franchises that played in Los Angeles and Orange counties after 1967 and eventually folded.

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Quotebook: Florida Marlin catcher Ron Tingley, on his teammate, knuckleball pitcher Charlie Hough: “He can embarrass a hitter on one pitch and embarrass a catcher on the next.”