This Role Model Discovers That Fame Can Be Fleeting

PGA player of the year Nick Price, who won the Western Open the same day fellow South African Simon Hobday won the U.S. Senior Open, spent his younger years learning golf from none other than Hobday.

“In the old days,” Hobday said, “Mark McNulty and Denis Watson and Nick Price were all youngsters when I was playing and they used to come and say, ‘Mr. Hobday, can we sit here in the back and watch you practice?’

“I’d say, ‘Fine, as long as you keep quiet.’ Nowadays, if I play in a tournament when they are there they say, ‘What are you doing here, you old man?’ You know, things change. I used to be Price’s hero and now he is mine.”

Add Hobday: The story goes that Hobday, a chain-smoker nicknamed “Scruffy,” once asked a clothing manufacturer for $500,000 for not wearing the company’s line of golf shirts.

Trivia time: Who was named the No. 1 major league prospect in the California League in 1988 by Baseball America?

Szechwan preferred: Seattle Mariner pitcher Chris Bosio sidestepped questions about his heated argument with umpire Durwood Merrill on Monday with this explanation: “We were just talking about Chinese food. We were just talking about our favorite restaurants. He likes the hot food. I don’t.”

Big, big John: John Daly reinforced his reputation as the biggest hitter in golf at the Scottish Open this week. He hit a tee shot measured at 425 yards on the 525-yard 18th hole.

Did they both count?Fred Tenney, a first baseman for the 1908 New York Giants, apparently had an unusual sense of humor.

In a game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Tenney stole second base as Cardinal pitcher Bugs Raymond held the ball. On the next pitch, Tenney ran back to first. On the following pitch he again stole second.

The umpires huddled but could find no rule prohibiting a steal in reverse. Reverse stealing subsequently was declared illegal.

Quick contract: The Sacramento Kings didn’t hesitate to pay No. 1 draft pick Brian Grant his asking price. He was presented a case of Dr Pepper and a bag of potato chips at the announcement party to unveil the team’s newest player.

“This is my pay right here,” Grant joked.

Grant had said he was so happy to be drafted he’d play for a can of pop and some chips. The forward from Xavier in Cincinnati was the No. 8 choice in the NBA draft.

Knows his place: When Detroit pitcher Kurt Knudsen’s earned-run average soared to 13.50, he was sent down to the Tigers’ triple-A club in Toledo. It didn’t surprise him.

“I expected it,” Knudsen said. “Let’s face it, would you want me on your pitching staff?”

Trivia answer: Ken Griffey Jr. of the San Bernardino Spirit.

Quotebook: Professional golfer Fred Couples: “The back is not made to do the things we (golfers) do. The only thing worse is rodeo.”