Before Their Big Dance, These Two Stubbed Toes

Some showdown. . . .

The second-place San Diego Padres will bring a four-game losing streak into Dodger Stadium tonight. . . .

And the first-place Dodgers aren’t exactly on a roll either. . . .

I mean, they really put it all together Sunday against the last-place San Francisco Giants--not getting a hit for seven innings, committing three errors and a balk, botching a pickoff play, and allowing the famed speedburner Matt Williams to steal a base. . . .

About the only fun the 42,862 fans had was executing the traditional seventh-inning wave and watching Barry Bonds go hitless. . . .

It figured that the Dodgers would get shut out twice in a row by the Giants after scoring 14 runs in the first two games of the series. . . .

Every time the Dodgers threaten to leave the pack in the NL West, they hit a pot hole. . . .

From time to time: Game time tonight at Dodger Stadium is 7:05. Sunday it was 5:05 p.m. Tuesday it will be 1:05 p.m. Wednesday it will be 7:35 p.m. . . .

Thumbs up to San Francisco owner Peter Magowan for extending Dusty Baker’s contract despite the Giants’ collapse. . . .

The only trouble with Baker as a manager is that he can’t throw strikes. . . .

The next major league team that fires a manager would be wise to hire another ex-Dodger, Davey Lopes. . . .

There are few, if any, coaches more respected by players and peers than Lopes, who comes to town with the Padres tonight. . . .

After 88 games, the Colorado Rockies were 29-15 at home and 15-29 on the road. . . .

Kirby Puckett’s numbers and heart belong in the Hall of Fame. . . .

*

Overlooked in the aftermath of the nasty things that happened at Madison Square Garden last Thursday night was the splendid performance of Andrew Golota. . . .

The splendid above-the-belt performance of Golota, that is. . . .

He dominated Riddick Bowe for nearly seven rounds and was on his way to a knockout victory before getting disqualified because of low blows. . . .

It won’t surprise me the least bit if Golota wins the inevitable rematch even though Bowe will take him more seriously than the first time and be in much better shape. . . .

After capturing a bronze medal in the 1988 Olympic Games for Poland when his first name was spelled Andrzej, moving to Chicago, and building a 28-0 professional record against a bunch of tomato cans, Golota was a revelation. . . .

Most important for a heavyweight, he demonstrated punching power and the ability to take a punch. . . .

His hands were faster than Bowe’s and he constantly beat him to the punch. Big and strong, he utilized his reach advantage and surprised the 10-1 favorite by bobbing and weaving and often making him miss. . . .

For certain, Golota is one of the few talented fighters in the heavyweight division. . . .

It’s doubtful if he is one of the smartest, though. . . .

Why he ever even attempted another body punch after having three points taken away for low blows is a mystery. . . .

All he needed to do was aim above the shoulders and he would have scored the biggest upset since Buster Douglas knocked out Mike Tyson. . . .

Likewise, Billy Conn would have won a decision over Joe Louis instead of getting knocked out in the 13th round if Conn had stayed away from Louis rather than trying to slug it out with him in their first fight in 1941. . . .

Boxing again is taking it on the chin after the riot that followed the disqualification of Golota. . . .

At least, nobody got seriously hurt or killed, which is more than can be said about a lot of disturbances that have broken out at soccer games abroad. . . .

Calm and cool and seemingly confident, Cigar looks the part of a winner even before the starting gates open. . . .

Then he does whatever is necessary to win, no matter the track, the conditions, or the caliber of the opposition. . . .

During his 16-win streak, Cigar has turned back 116 challenges from 93 different horses. . . .

Vin Scully on the wild and crazy comebacks at Coors Field: “There is no ‘Fat Lady’ in Denver.”