An Errant Shot Nets Him Quite a Fishy Story

There are countless fish stories but never one that took place in a sand bunker--until now.

Lennie Learmouth went looking for a lost ball in a bunker during a round at England’s Wetherby Golf Club, but instead he landed a 40-pound, 45-inch-long pike, according to Golf World.

The huge fish apparently got stranded when recent storms caused a nearby river to flood the course, including the bunkers.

So Learmouth grabbed a rake and dragged the pike to shore. “I’m always hooking on the golf course,” he said later, “but this is ridiculous.”

Trivia time: Who holds the record for most points in an NCAA men’s Division 1 basketball championship game?

Funny cars: Scott Ostler in the San Francisco Chronicle: “The two top finishers in the Brazilian Grand Prix were DQ’d and fined for using illegal gas. No, Ben Johnson was not a member of the pit crew.”

Motivated: Gary Payton of the Seattle SuperSonics on his team’s 0-4 record against the Lakers: “They’re talking out there (L.A.) how we can’t beat them. It would be a nice thing to play them in the playoffs.”

Compatible conference: Woody Woodburn in the Ventura Star-Free Press on Arizona’s habitual first-round exit in the NCAA tournament: “I think the Wildcats should apply to transfer into the Big Ten.”

Hogwash: Nick Canepa in the San Diego Union-Tribune: “Nolan Richardson is a terrific coach, but he’s first-team All Insecure. Just who bashes the man’s ability? The only time negative things are written about him is when he opens his mouth.”

Same surface: Mark Soltau of the San Francisco Examiner writes that Tiger Woods, the U.S. Amateur champion, prepared himself for the fast greens at the Masters tournament this week in Augusta, Ga., by putting on the hardwood floors of Stanford’s Maples Pavilion.

Sorry we asked: Orlando’s Shaquille O’Neal when asked if his team’s recent victory over the Chicago Bulls sent a message that the Magic is the team to beat in the East: “I don’t like to send messages. I’m not a fax machine.”

Blowhard? Norman Chad in the April edition of GQ: “Three quarters of the earth’s surface is covered by water, mostly from oceans. The other quarter is covered by hot air, mostly from Dick Vitale.”

Add Chad: On sportswriters on television: “They’re everywhere. Someone must have shut down the buffet at Sizzler.”

Tough town: Headline in the New York Post after the Rangers recently suffered their seventh consecutive loss: “STANLEY CHUMPS?”

Looking back: On this day in 1989 Rumeal Robinson of Michigan made two free throws with three seconds left in overtime as the Wolverines defeated Seton Hall, 80-79, to win the NCAA championship in Seattle.

Trivia answer: Bill Walton of UCLA with 44 against Memphis in 1973, breaking the record of 42 points set by UCLA’s Gail Goodrich against Michigan in 1965.

Quotebook: Tim Dell, Milwaukee Brewer replacement pitcher, addressing manager Phil Garner in front of the team: “When they strike again in August, are we guaranteed our jobs back?”