McDowell’s Number: One Too Many Digits

Downey’s California:

--Jack McDowell of the New York Yankees waved a single finger at Yankee Stadium’s fans Tuesday night simply to say: (a) “Billy Martin! Still No. 1!” (b) “One Month Until Our Next Strike!” (c) “And Now, My Impersonation of Babe Ruth, Calling His Shot!” (d) “I Made This Many Million This Month! How Many Million Did You Make?” (e) “I Hafta Go to the Bathroom!” (f) “Taxi!”

--People knock the Dodger defense, but I’ve never seen any team better at turning the 9-3 double play.

--A candy bar has been named after Cleveland outfielder Albert Belle. This officially makes him the Indian in the cupboard.

--The curtain at Magic Johnson Theaters should go up with: “Preview of Coming Attractions. No, Not Me.”

--Hakeem Olajuwon and Shaquille O’Neal keep eating those tacos. They won’t want to guard each other, believe me.

--Football writers never mention the many fine Seattle Seahawks who have not been arrested.

--Days and days of Jacksonville Jaguar tradition continued this week with Coach Tom Coughlin banning the wearing of sunglasses at training camp. Lombardi, Halas, Coughlin . . . the great ones really know their football.

--From listening to XTRA radio in San Diego this week, I learned that the Chargers have the mightiest team in the history of organized sport, and the 49ers also look pretty solid at certain positions.

--You know, if Monica Seles loses her first 10 or 20 tennis matches, her ranking could plunge to No. 2.

--What’s the big deal about the “Road Hole” at St. Andrews? Every golf hole I play is potentially a road hole.

--I went to Mel Gibson’s “Braveheart” thinking it would be about the approach to the 17th green.

--The United States has only three more years to prepare for that next World Cup, and, by Bora, I just don’t think that’s enough time!

--I’m mixed up. Is Hugh Grant the one who plays for the Orlando Magic or his brother?

--UCLA opens its football season Sept. 2 against the University of Miami. My prediction: UCLA wins, 38-37, but mysteriously loses more than $10 a man from the locker room while waiting for Miami’s team to return for the second half.

--Thunder Gulch is running at Hollywood Park. Thunder Gulch would also be a good name for the new football stadium.

--The New Orleans Saints releasing Morten Anderson is like Graceland releasing Elvis.

--If Westinghouse buys CBS, its newest employee could be Refrigerator Perry.

--I believe sushi would sell better at ballparks if they put a prize in every package.

--By the way, that foot-long Dodger roll? Mmmmm-mmmm.

--The Summer Olympics will open one year from now with the traditional torching of Atlanta.

--During the opening ceremonies, India’s athletes should really feel welcome by everyone doing that tomahawk chop.

--Janet Evans still swims great for a woman of . . . let’s see, what is she now? Forty? Forty-five?

--Couldn’t Michael Johnson skip the 200 and 400 and just run one 600?

--Cuba could be in big trouble in Olympic baseball if its players keep jumping to inferior teams like, oh, Oakland.

--True story: The International Hockey League has a team called the Minnesota Moose. Where do they play--Frostbite Falls?