Name’s the Same and So Are the Questions

Michael Jordan liked it better when Michael Jordan retired from basketball to play baseball.

Michael Jordan of Chippewa Falls, Wis., shares the name and birth year of that other Michael Jordan, the one who plays basketball for the Chicago Bulls.

“My life got a lot simpler when he retired to play baseball,” said the Chippewa Falls Jordan, executive director of the city’s chamber of commerce.

“I like a good joke--don’t get me wrong,” said the 5-foot-9 Jordan. “But I keep hearing a lot of the same ones: ‘You’re not as tall as I expected,’ or, ‘Why did you quit baseball?’ ”

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Trivia time: Who was the first Latino player voted to baseball’s Hall of Fame?

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Cerebral Redskins: The Miami of Ohio football team that won the Sun Bowl in 1948 wasn’t the best football team of all time, but it might have been the smartest. On Coach Sid Gillman’s roster were future coaches Ara Parseghian, Bo Schembechler, Carmen Cozza and Paul Dietzel, plus future Ram General Manager Jack Faulkner.

The team is holding a 50th anniversary party today in Miami, recalling its 13-12 victory over Texas Tech.

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Mutt and Jeff: When the Boston Red Sox started 5-foot-6 Richie Lewis and 6-foot-8 Bobby Munoz a couple of games apart, pitching coach Mike Flanagan said, “We’re trying to screw up the opposing hitters’ sight lines.”

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Important stuff: Former NBA coach Bob Hill hired a public relations agency to promote his bid for another coaching job. Faxed to various teams, along with his basketball resume, was an item noting, “In addition to all that, he’s a snappy dresser.”

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Ouch! The Chicago Tribune’s Steve Rosenbloom, on Magic Johnson’s prediction that the Utah Jazz would win the NBA finals and deprive Michael Jordan of a sixth championship ring:

“Of course, the only thing Magic knows about a sixth championship is that he doesn’t have one.”

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Looking back: On this day in 1984, the Boston Celtics beat the Lakers, 111-102, in the seventh game of the NBA finals, winning their 15th title.

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Brick by brick: In a taped interview that appeared during the NBA finals, Utah’s Karl Malone showed off his 27,000-square-foot mansion.

“After checking out his shooting in Games 1 and 2, at least we know what he’s doing with all the extra bricks,” Clif Mayne said in a letter to Tom FitzGerald of the San Francisco Chronicle.

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Trivia answer: Roberto Clemente, in 1973.

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And finally: For Dodger fans who might wander into Kenosha, Wis., Lou Perrine will be celebrating the first anniversary this year of his “Tommy Lasorda’s Healthy Dugout Deli.”

In keeping with Lasorda’s diets, Perrine says he serves only low-fat meats and cheeses.

The Grand Slam, “97% fat-free ham, Genoa salami, cappacola and provolone,” goes for $3.49.