Boris Coughs Up Strategy on the Court

Three-time Wimbledon champion Boris Becker won’t be in today’s men’s final after losing to Goran Ivanisevic in Friday’s semifinals, but his loss didn’t stop TV commentator and former champion John McEnroe from recalling gamesmanship tactics of the big German player.

“One of his favorites was to cough on big points,” McEnroe said. “It got to a stage where I played him once where I started imitating his cough just to show that I felt he was doing it to gain an advantage.

“He said, ‘Hey, John, I got a cold.’ I said, ‘You’ve had it for four years.’ ”

Trivia time: How many of the players on the United States World Cup team that upset Colombia were born in foreign countries?

Never land: Ohio State has played 11 times in the Rose Bowl, 10 times in the Coliseum, twice in San Diego and once at Tournament Park in Pasadena on New Year’s Day, 1921, but when the Buckeyes meet Fresno State in the Disneyland Pigskin Classic on Aug. 29, it will be their first appearance in Anaheim Stadium.

Proud father: Martinez Jackson was a Philadelphia tailor who played second base for the Newark Eagles in one of the old Negro leagues. When Jackson died recently at 89, Frank Dolson of the Philadelphia Inquirer recalled that Jackson had carried business cards that read:

“Marty the Tailor, Father of Famous Reggie Jackson.”

Different look: What makes the Pinehurst No. 2 golf course--site of the U.S. Senior Open--so special? No condominiums, according to Lee Trevino.

“You know when you look across the fairway, you see other players playing two, three holes,” he said. “You are not looking at a big dog going woof-woof or swimming pools or all that stuff over in somebody’s yard.

“You go out there and it is quiet. All you can hear are the birds chirping. You don’t see any rubber flamingos in the back yard.”

Good feeling: Comedian Chris Farley of “Saturday Night Live” doesn’t hide his enthusiasm for Wisconsin sports.

“I used to love tailgating in Madison, or eating brats at Brewers’ games until I couldn’t walk anymore,” he said.

More than a hint: Thomas Muster was ranked 11th in the world before playing at Wimbledon, but when he lost in the first round it shouldn’t have surprised him.

“Lotto (his clothing sponsor) sent me just four white shirts to play at Wimbledon,” he said. “I guess they didn’t have much confidence in my chances.”

Yellow card: Apparently not everyone is watching the World Cup. Catcher Mike Macfarlane of the Kansas City Royals told friends, “If you see me watching a soccer game, you can beat me over the head with a shovel.”

Trivia answer: Seven: Fernando Clavijo, Uruguay; Thomas Dooley, Germany; Frank Klopas, Greece; Hugo Perez, El Salvador; Tab Ramos, Uruguay; Ernie Stewart, Holland, and Roy Wegerle, South Africa.

Quotebook: Manager Lou Piniella of the Seattle Mariners, on the state of the American League West: “I used to tell everyone that someone in our division would finish over .500. I’m not so sure anymore.”