This Security Blanket Is Made of Steel

Going to the Olympics? Be prepared for long waits outside venues and a visible police presence on city streets.

The federal government, which is spending $227 million on Olympic security, is looking for everything from chemical attacks to airline hijackings.

About 30,000 police officers, military personnel and private security guards will be on hand to keep Atlanta safe. Sweeps have removed hundreds of what authorities call “career criminals” from Atlanta’s streets.

One might wonder, asks Marc Rice of Associated Press, are the Olympics being held in the Peach State or a police state?

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Trivia time: Who were the first Southern Californians to win national collegiate tennis championships?

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Inside straight: Pete Doerr started the back nine at the Coldwater (Mich.) Country Club with a hole in one, two birdies and two pars, making his scorecard read 1-2-3-4-5.

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The Japanese way: Former major leaguer Troy Neel of the Orix Blue Wave in Tokyo was fined and given a “severe warning” for punching catcher Tetsuya Matoyama of the Kintetsu Buffaloes in the face. The 50,000 yen fine amounted to $463.

Neel was ejected from another game for his language in complaining over a called third strike. A league statement said Neel needs to reflect on his unsportsmanlike acts.

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Versatile lady: Amy Fuller believes in representing her country in whatever manner she can. During the Olympics, she will be a member of the women’s eight-oar rowing team. In the 1992 games she won a silver medal in the four-oared shell.

Between Olympic Games, she worked as a grinder for America3 in the America’s Cup.

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Great name: Whatever happened to jeu de paume? It was an Olympic sport at the 1908 games in London. Then it was dropped.

Jeu de paume is a form of court tennis, a version of today’s game.

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Money’s worth: Ernie Banks was famous for saying, “Let’s play two,” even in the heat of summer, but the Charlotte Knights and Pawtucket Red Sox did him one better.

They played three.

After finishing a suspended International League game in Charlotte, they played a doubleheader. It took seven hours 13 minutes.

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Luck runs out: Joe Montana has not only become part owner of Chip Ganassi’s racing team, until Sunday he was also its good-luck charm.

The future Hall of Fame quarterback had attended only three Indy car races this season--and Ganassi drivers won all three: Jimmy Vasser at Miami and the U.S. 500 at Michigan, and Alex Zanardi at Portland. At Sunday’s Cleveland Grand Prix, Zanardi was second, Al Unser Jr. fourth and Vasser 10th with Montana in the pits.

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Trivia answer: Jack Tidball of UCLA in 1933 and Darlene Hard of Pomona College in 1958.

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And finally: LaVell Edwards, the Brigham Young football coach, was asked if he preferred speed or quickness in his wide receivers.

“I’d like to have them both,” he replied, “but if they had both they’d be at Southern Cal.”