Book Your Flight; As They Say, Good Seats Still Available

The All-Star game next Tuesday at The Ballpark in Arlington will go in the books as a sellout, but look again. Out on the street, the market for tickets in Texas appears to have taken a direct hit from last season’s strike.

“The All-Star game has been a total flop,” said Barry Lefcowitz, head of the National Assn. of Ticket Brokers, many of whose members are stuck trying to get rid of seats. “Without any question, the strike has had a dramatic impact on interest in the All-Star game. Or should I say lack of interest.”

Lefcowitz, a lobbyist for the ticket industry, said the corporate clients who usually gobble up a good portion of the tickets are staying away this year.

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Trivia time: What California high school has produced two men’s singles champions at Wimbledon?

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Listening in: Phil Jackman of the Baltimore Sun, commenting on the Wimbledon TV talk between “gee-whiz host Dick Enberg” and Chris Evert:

“When nice-guy Enberg said, ‘A Japanese player will win a major championship in this century,’ Chris guffawed: ‘I can’t believe you said that. That’s a bet.’ ”

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Straight talk: If Jim Ferlo, Pittsburgh city council president, has anything to say about it, the Pirates are not long for Three Rivers Stadium.

“If Vince Sarni [Pirate chairman] bit himself in the arm, he’d die of blood poisoning,” Ferlo said. “The city should tell Sarni and baseball, ‘Don’t let the door hit you in the [butt] on the way out of Pittsburgh.’ ”

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Whatever it takes: Goran Ivanisevic didn’t break any rackets in anger in losing his Wimbledon semifinal to Pete Sampras on Friday, but perhaps he should have.

“In the last couple of months, every time I break a racket I win a game or points,” the Croatian left-hander said. “So, if that’s the case, I’m going to break a racket every time, if it’s going to bring me luck.

“I know it’s not nice for the [racket] company, but they have to understand.”

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Tit for tat: After San Francisco Chronicle columnist C.W. Nevius wrote that the Giants should trade Barry Bonds, the all-star outfielder was quick to respond.

“Look in the mirror and check yourself out before you judge,” Bonds said.

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Ouch! Mark Kriegel in the New York Daily News: “The Washington Generals have closed up shop, leaving the Harlem Globetrotters without their usual foils. No matter. The Nets will be able to do the job.”

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Trivia answer: Pasadena High with Ellsworth Vines in 1932 and Stan Smith in 1972.

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Quotebook: British marathon runner Jeremy Hyams on his 48-year-old physique: “I have the body of a man half my age. Unfortunately, he’s in terrible shape.”