For Sarazen, It Will Be a Match Made in Heaven

Gene Sarazen finally let go Thursday at 97. My guess is that he wanted a better vantage point from which to see David Duval versus Tiger Woods.

The made-for-television exhibition matching the world’s Nos. 1 and 2 ranked golfers, scheduled for Aug. 2 at Thousand Oaks’ Sherwood Country Club, has been panned by critics as an artificial attempt to jump-start a rivalry.

So? Sarazen would ask.

He loved match play and took part in three exhibitions in the ‘20s that helped popularize golf. He lost to Walter Hagen over 72 holes in 1927, teamed with Hagen in 1928 to beat Bobby Jones and Johnny Farrell, and beat Farrell in 1929 in Rome in a match attended by Benito Mussolini.

Sarazen continued to play exhibitions throughout his career.

One reason was that he needed the money, having lost most of his in the stock market crash of ’29.

Three years later, he almost couldn’t afford to travel to the British Open. But his wife bought him an airline ticket and he won with an assist from a new club he invented, the sand wedge. (He was so convinced tournament officials would ban the club if they inspected it that he carried it underneath his overcoat to his hotel after each round.)

Another reason was that he believed golf should be played head to head.

“Stroke play week after week is too boring,” he said.

If Sarazen were playing today, though, he might not be a good candidate for televised exhibitions. Seldom feeling the need to linger over a shot, he played so quickly that it would be difficult to fit commercials in.

“Miss ‘em quick” was his motto.

He didn’t miss often.

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Every manager from Tom Lasorda to Bill Russell to Glenn Hoffman to Davey Johnson has told Raul Mondesi he would be one of the league’s most feared hitters if he learned patience. . . .

He has walked 22 times this season, 16 more than at this point last year. . . .

He still has room to improve. He has also struck out 26 times. . . .

One of those strikeouts was with the tying run on third base Wednesday night against the Cubs. But the Dodgers rallied in the ninth to win, 3-2. . . .

“The first thing he said after the game was, ‘Wasn’t that a great win?’ ” said Mondesi’s agent, Jeff Moorad. “Not to say that wasn’t his motivation in the past, but he’s thinking team first at this stage in his career.” . . .

Mike Piazza, asked the best thing he ever learned from Lasorda, told ESPN Magazine’s Dan Patrick, “How to get a free meal. Tommy has never paid. He has his meal money in a mutual fund before the road trip, dude.” . . .

Fresh from his meeting with John Elway, the next high-profile potential investor Eli Broad is expected to court is Steven Spielberg. . . .

It’s debatable which undergraduate will go higher in his respective draft, UCLA guard Baron Davis or USC catcher Eric Munson. . . .

Just in time to help the Trojans defend their NCAA championship, Munson is ready to start catching again in a three-game series this weekend at Dedeaux Field against Washington. He sat out 21 games because of a broken bone in his right hand. . . .

On the bubble for a tournament berth, UCLA is playing host this weekend to Stanford. To encourage fan support, UCLA is busing students from the campus to Jackie Robinson Stadium. . . .

Alaina Kipps graduates Saturday as valedictorian, the first USC athlete to earn that distinction since water polo player Craig Furniss in 1981. . . .

Kipps was co-captain of the volleyball team, a French horn player in the concert band and a 4.0 student in psychobiology. . . .

Artesia’s Jason Kapono, one of the best unsigned high school basketball players in the nation, is at long last giving UCLA a look. . . .

One theory is that Kapono has been discouraged from considering the Bruins by some at Artesia who believe the O’Bannons, Ed and Charles, didn’t develop as much as they should have in Westwood. . . .

Salt Lake City will unveil its mascot Saturday for the 2002 Winter Olympics. The Wall Street Journal suggests a “Tickle My Palm, Elmo.” . . .

I agree with Bob Baffert when he says post position in Triple Crown races should be determined by earnings instead of luck of the draw. . . .

In that case, the richest and maybe fastest 3-year-old this year, Silverbulletday, would finally have a chance to test herself against the colts Saturday in the Preakness. . . .

When she drew the 14th post, Baffert wisely entered her in today’s Black-Eyed Susan Stakes for fillies. . . .

Smart money in the Preakness is on Menifee, who came from the 18th post to finish second in the Kentucky Derby. . . .

But I like Baffert’s other filly, Excellent Meeting, who had a rougher trip than Menifee at Churchill Downs, found herself next to last at the first turn and made up enough ground to finish fifth. . . .

Remember, though, that I’m the one who predicted Stephen Got Even would win the Derby. He finished 14th. . . .

Of course, Stephen Got Even is still a good bet. He’s got Gary Stevens aboard and . . .

On second thought, you should probably listen to someone else. . . .

Oscar De La Hoya told Univision he will retire if Felix Trinidad doesn’t agree to fight him in September, then denied it. . . .

If Trinidad won’t fight, De La Hoya will offer Ike Quartey a rematch in September. . . .

As for that December fight De La Hoya has proposed at the new Staples Center, I’d like to see him fight Shane Mosley of Pomona. . . .

The undefeated Mosley is moving up two weight classes, from 135 to 147, for a possible bout with De La Hoya. . . .

If Sports Illustrated is seeking candidates for “This Week’s Sign That the Apocalypse Is Upon Us,” I have two: Mike Tyson is on the cover of the June Esquire’s Father’s Day issue, and sneaker company And 1 has a commercial starring Latrell Sprewell called “The American Dream.”

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While wondering if there are any Dodger executives left who still don’t believe Pedro Martinez is a power pitcher, I was thinking: Jerry Buss is right to wait until he sees how this season ends before offering Kurt Rambis an extension, the Clippers should draft Baron Davis, all of us who never believed the Utah Jazz was for real may finally be right.

Randy Harvey can be reached at his e-mail address: randy.harvey@latimes.com.