Broncos Not Seeking This Kind of Speed

When Alex Sanchez, 31, of Westminster, Colo., showed up at the Denver Broncos’ training camp at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, he said he was there to try out for the Broncos. He claimed he had been a quarterback at Abilene Christian.

When team officials refused to allow Sanchez to register because he was not under contract, he made a scene and police were called. A chase ensued that reached 100 m.p.h.

Sanchez was arrested and jailed.

“He probably got a little frustrated--a third-team quarterback in high school,” Bronco Coach Mike Shanahan said. “He probably wanted a chance to show what he could do.”

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Trivia time: Roger Maris, who hit a record 61 home runs in 1961 with the New York Yankees, is in the “National High School Sports Record Book” for what feat?

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Scouting frenzy: Already in Japan the search is on for the “next Nomo.”

The hottest prospect is a 21-year-old with a single name, Ichiro, who plays for the Orix Blue Wave in Kobe and is Japan’s leading hitter.

“Ichiro could definitely play in the majors,” says Francisco Cabrera, a former Atlanta catcher who played for the Blue Wave.

Not everyone would like to see him go.

“If Ichiro goes too, what’s left for the Japanese leagues?” asked the magazine Sunday Mainichi.

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A good scout: Even if Al Unser Jr. doesn’t win in today’s Indy car race at Toronto, he already is a winner. He was named motor sportsman of the year by the Cascade Pacific Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

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In the genes: Sandy Oster was the batboy for the old Hollywood Stars of the Pacific Coast League for eight years when they played at Gilmore Field. Sandy’s son, Bob, was an honorary batboy for the Dodgers in 1969.

And one of the honorary batboys in Saturday’s Dodger game was Robbie Oster, 15, Sandy’s grandson and Bob’s son.

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Age of specialization: On Al Hoffmann’s funny car, contending for the National Hot Rod Assn. championship, different mechanics work on opposite sides of the engine. Which prompted Chris Economaki to wonder if after a losing run, one of the mechanics might say, “My side of the engine ran better than your side.”

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Only an illusion: Among the teams scouting Doc Gooden, who hopes to return to pitching in 1996 after a year’s suspension for drug use, are the Atlanta Braves. But General Manager John Schuerholz says he’s not interested in the former Met star.

“We may well have had a scout there, but I sure as hell didn’t send him,” Schuerholz said.

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Lucky choices: Johnny Oates, the Texas Rangers’ manager, ought to consider playing the lottery. Since June 1, Ranger pinch-hitters are hitting .714, or 10 for 14.

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Trivia answer: Most kickoff returns for a touchdown in one game. Four for Shanley High in Fargo, N.D., in 1951.

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Quotebook: Paul Friedman, new public address announcer at Chicago’s Wrigley Field: “One thing I’ve learned is that if you make a mistake, if you say it with a deep enough voice, you can get away with it.”