Ruth on In-Line Skates--There’s a Picture to Boggle Most Minds

John Wetteland, the newly acquired closer of the New York Yankees, skated into their clubhouse on in-line skates with a hockey helmet on his head.

Then, he headed to the parking lot to skate some more in a drizzling rain. Thomas Boswell of the Washington Post writes: “Babe Ruth must have been spinning in his grave; but then he’s been doing a lot of that lately.”

Wetteland, however, has Ruthian qualities in regard to fans. After a recent workout in Florida, he climbed into the stands and talked and signed autographs until everyone near him went home satisfied.

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Trivia time: What was the lowest round recorded on the PGA Tour in 1994?

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How about cake mixing? Dan O’Neill of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, reporting that curling will become a medal sport in the Winter Olympics at Nagano, Japan, in 1996:

“And in a related item, a spokesperson indicated the Olympic Committee also is considering adding bread-defrosting as a medal sport in 1996.”

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Direct approach: Ma Junren, Chinese track coach, confirming that he sometimes beat up members of his world-class squad as a motivational tool: “I must admit my management style was too simple sometimes.”

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Tales from the crypt: Outfielder Ryan Thompson of the New York Mets obviously is awed by the acquisition of veteran Brett Butler from the Dodgers.

“A young player has to listen to him. You would be a fool not to,” he told Anthony L. Gargano of the New York Post. “I plan to do that. I’m going to suck him like a vampire. I’m going to suck all the blood out of him.”

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Win-win deal: Gary Shelton of the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times writes that there were two reasons the New York Giants wanted Herschel Walker:

“One, they can use him to replace Dave Meggett. Two, if it doesn’t work out, they can trade him to Minnesota for six starters and 32 draft picks.”

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It’s a start: Comedian Jay Leno on St. Louis getting the Rams: “How about that? One day you don’t even have a team, and the next day you’re in last place!”

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Chickism: Laker broadcaster Chick Hearn on an awkward shot by Vlade Divac against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday night:

“That’s the ugliest shot I’ve ever seen. Remember when Kareem shot the sky hook? That was the floor hook.”

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Gone and forgotten: The souvenir shop at Municipal Stadium in West Palm Beach, Fla., spring home of the Atlanta Braves and Montreal Expos, is selling uniform jerseys worn by Expo replacement players earlier this spring. The price is $100.

Only one jersey has been purchased in one week since they went on sale.

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FYI: Of the 2,785 jockeys who rode in North America in 1993, 372 were women.

Trivia answer: A 60 by Davis Love III in the second round of the Hawaiian Open--and he didn’t win the tournament.

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Quotebook: Tom Watson on his putting problems: “I’ve gone through more putters than Carter has pills.”