Is Gender Worth More in Tender?

Hall of Fame golfer Patty Sheehan doesn’t like the way female athletes are portrayed in different ways than males. She says the inequality mirrors the rest of society.

“One of the glaring examples of discrimination,” she said, “is John Daly, who is an alcoholic and has beaten his wife and been a jerk at times. He just signs a $30-million contract with Wilson for 10 years.

“Then you have Jennifer Capriati, who is a young kid who got caught with some marijuana and all her contracts are taken away from her.”

Trivia time: Andy Benes came within two innings of pitching the first no-hitter in the history of the San Diego Padres last Sunday. Which three other teams have never had a pitcher throw a no-hitter?

All in the family: Benes’ younger brother, Alan, pitched a one-hitter Saturday night, leading the Class AA Arkansas Travelers to a 5-1 victory over Shreveport in the Texas League.

Love that city: Pitcher Greg A. Harris, picked up by the New York Yankees after his release from the Boston Red Sox, will become the 52nd player to play for the Yankees and New York Mets. Harris pitched for the Mets in 1981.

Happy welcome: When people call Jacobs Field, operators answer: “Thank you for calling the first-place Cleveland Indians.”

Cannibalism? Dick Butkus, the great linebacker of the Chicago Bears who was called the “Animal” by rival players, was accused on occasion of biting them.

Butkus, now an actor, was wounded by the charge of biting. He said: “That biting charge definitely is not true. I’m a football player, not a gourmet.”

Role model: The San Francisco Giants signed Darryl Strawberry to play right field, but what about Mark Carreon, who has been playing that position? He went nine for 15 with two homers and eight runs batted in during a four-game series with Montreal. On Sunday, his three-run homer gave the Giants an 8-5 victory.

“I know my role,” Carreon said. “I know when Darryl gets here it will be back to the routine. But it’s been fun to contribute.”

More tears: Just because Arnold Palmer gave a tearful farewell at the U. S. Open, it doesn’t mean that Arnie won’t be around. He has entered the PGA Championship for a record 37th consecutive appearance Aug. 11-14 at Southern Hills in Tulsa.

Palmer is one of only six players to shoot all four rounds in the PGA in the 60s--but he has never won it. When he shot 68-68-69-69--274 in 1964, Bobby Nichols shot 271.

More than oversight: Warren Moon, the new Minnesota Viking quarterback, is upset that Florida State’s Charlie Ward was not drafted by an NFL team.

“When Charlie Ward can’t get drafted, that shows you there’s something wrong,” Moon told Inside Sports. “Here’s a kid who’s done everything you can possibly do in college football--win a national championship, win a Heisman Trophy, great passing statistics--and then they’re going to say he’s not tall enough or his arm’s not strong enough? That’s totally uncalled for.”

Trivia answer: The New York Mets, the Colorado Rockies and the Florida Marlins.

Quotebook: Philadelphia Phillie catcher Darren Daulton, on new teammate Fernando Valenzuela: “He’s 33? What, in dog years?”