Seattle Makes Karl a Loser in Cold War

Steve Kelley of the Seattle Times ridicules SuperSonic President Wally Walker’s “stand-up” routine at a news conference announcing the firing of Coach George Karl.

“The theme was trust, or lack of trust Wally felt for Karl. It was all about leaks. Walker sounded as if he were Henry Kissinger engaged in some covert activity in Southeast Asia.

“Karl, it appears, was fired because the Sonics didn’t believe he could keep a secret.

“Walker made it sound as if Karl were a human fax machine, sending secrets coast to coast. He made it sound as if Karl were some double agent, hellbent on submarining every possible deal the Sonics made.”

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Trivia time: Four left-handed major league pitchers in this century have thrown perfect games. Who are they?

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No big deal: Steve Kerr of the Chicago Bulls on Dennis Rodman arriving late to practice:

“It’s been going on all the time he’s been here. That must mean it’s the media’s fault for treating this as though it actually means something.”

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Check-phobia: Ron Borges in the Boston Globe: “Charlie Finley had the best description for a man like Tom Clancy: ‘Big hat, no cattle,’ the old Oakland A’s owner used to say about guys who were always saying they were ready to make an offer to buy his team right up until it was time to write the check.”

Borges suggests that Clancy begin working on his latest novel: “The Hunt for Red Ink.”

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Holy franchise: USA Today reports that, with the addition of pitcher Eddie Priest, the Cincinnati Reds have had a Priest, a Nunn (Howie Nunn, 1961-62), a Church (Bubba Church, 1952-53) and a Saint (Randy St. Claire, 1988).

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Different ball: Chicago Cub first baseman Mark Grace, the first player to hit a ball into the swimming pool at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix, says it was not a big deal:

“I’ve hit many balls into the drink in my time. It’s usually with seven-irons and five-irons.”

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The good fairy? Singer Mariah Carey in the New York Post on reports she is responsible for the achievements of her boyfriend, Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter:

“I’m just a singer, not some magical baseball genie who can make or break someone’s game.”

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Looking back: On this day in 1911, Ray Harroun won the first Indianapolis 500 race in 6 hours 41 minutes 8 seconds with an average speed of 74.59 mph.

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Trivia answer: Sandy Koufax, 1965; Tom Browning, 1988; Kenny Rogers, 1994, and David Wells, 1998. Note: Harvey Haddix had a perfect game through 12 innings in 1959 before losing the game in the 13th.

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And finally: Minnesota Twin relief pitcher Mike Trombley, astounded that Mike Piazza turned down an $84-million offer from the Dodgers:

“I think, for me, $84 million would have to be for 168 years, and I don’t know if I can give that kind of service time. My kids would have to work for the Twins too.”