Coach Must Get His Kicks From Stands

A coach? Who needs one?

The Donnellson (Iowa) Central Lee boys’ soccer team has gotten along just fine without Coach Michael Sheerin on the sidelines during its postseason tournament games.

The Hawks gave up only one goal in winning all three of their substate games and entered the state tournament as the top- seeded team in Class 1A and the only unbeaten team in either class.

Sheerin was suspended for tournament play because he missed a rules meeting in February.

He can attend the state tournament games--as long as he buys a ticket--and can watch for as long as he wants. He can cheer, stomp his feet and shout encouragement. If he feels the urge, he can buy a hot dog. He just can’t coach.

Sheerin said he missed the rules meeting because of a scheduling conflict. The Iowa High School Athletic Assn. constitution stipulates that a coach who misses a rules meeting is not allowed to coach during the state tournament series.

“It’s my fault that I missed it,” Sheerin said. “I’ll take full responsibility.”

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Trivia time: Who holds the Galaxy record for goals in a season?

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Such a deal: Washington Post columnist Tony Kornheiser knows why the Washington Wizards have been unable to hire a new coach.

“The Wizards have two aging guards, only one unassailable young player [Juwan Howard, who’d be better off playing somewhere else], no first-round pick, no cap room, and no hope this year and possibly next. Whoever comes in here is looking at a 20-win team. Gaaack.”

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No Reds Rose: Members of Cincinnati’s 1975 championship squad, “The Big Red Machine,” are having a reunion this weekend and, of course, Pete Rose won’t be there.

Rose, baseball’s all-time hit leader, accepted a lifetime ban from major league baseball in 1989 for gambling. The ban prohibits Rose from going on the field or doing anything more than an ordinary fan.

Red outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. thinks baseball is off base.

“You banned him from the game; you didn’t ban him from [honoring] things that other people have done,” Griffey said. “People want to see him too. Everybody knows that something’s missing and it shouldn’t be.”

Baseball made a one-time exception last year, allowing Rose to be introduced as part of its All-Century team at the World Series.

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Trivia answer: Eduardo Hurtado, 21 goals in 1996.

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And finally: From Mark Kriegel, New York Daily News: “I don’t understand why the Knicks insist on listing Charlie Ward at 6-2. I mean, if he were really 6-2, he’d be starting for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.”