Make a Public Appearance for Free? Nonsense

Remember how major league baseball players gushed over the contribution of Curt Flood, who by challenging baseball’s reserve system in court effectively ended his own career but made possible the fat salaries players today earn?

Footnote: Not one active player was present at Flood’s recent funeral in Los Angeles.

In fact, the only players from the post-Flood era present were Steve Garvey, Don Baylor and Doug DeCinces.

*

Trivia time: What do the following have in common: Tiger Woods, former Secretary of State Warren Christopher, Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor?

*

Tim, Keith and . . . : Why shouldn’t there be a growing wave of high school stars moving directly to the NBA?

NBA scouts say this year’s crop of college seniors isn’t much of an obstacle.

“It’s one of the most depleted senior classes in draft history,” said Sacramento personnel chief Jerry Reynolds.

Scouts say the only outstanding seniors are Wake Forest’s Tim Duncan and Utah’s Keith Van Horn.

“There’s a real drop-off to the next level,” said Scott Layden, Jazz vice president of basketball operations. “I don’t even know where the next level is.”

*

Add kids: Wilt Chamberlain, on teenagers bypassing college for the NBA:

“It doesn’t bother me that these kids are coming in. I don’t think that’s bad for the league. What’s bad for the league is they can come in right out of high school and play in the NBA.”

*

Add Wilt: The Boston Globe’s Peter May, commenting on Chamberlain at 60:

“He looks like he could get out there now and play 15 minutes a night. If you’re [Celtic Coach] M.L. Carr, whom would you rather have, Wilt or Brett Szabo?”

*

When’s payday? NBA old-timer Rick Barry, on his and son Brent’s salaries:

“Brent signed a three-year deal with the Clippers. . . . He was picked 15th; I was picked second. . . . He signed for more money than I made in my whole 14-year career.”

*

Add Barry: Rick Barry must think pro basketball followers have short memories.

Here’s what he said in an interview at the All-Star game: “Players who show up coaches and act like idiots--whether it’s Robert Horry throwing a towel at his coach or Dennis Rodman kicking a cameraman--should be kicked off teams.”

Hey, Rick, how about players who whine, moan and gripe on every call whistled against them?

*

Only in America: Entertainment Weekly magazine estimates Richard Jewell earned about $11,000 per day during his 88 days as a suspect in the Olympic bombing case.

The magazine factors in settlements from threatened libel suits against NBC and CNN, and film rights sold to 20th Century Fox.

*

Trivia answer: All went to Stanford.

*

And finally: The Celtics’ Carr after Bryant “Big Country” Reeves scored 33 points and grabbed 18 rebounds to beat the Celtics in Boston:

“Big Country was Big New England tonight.”