He May Never Get Back in Swing of Things

Charles Barkley has retired after a long and notable NBA career. Now he has more time to play golf--though he might not have many playing partners.

He was paired with Tom Watson in the pro-am before the recent Bruno’s Memorial senior tournament in Birmingham, Ala.

“I tried everything mental and physical I could to help him out,” Watson told Golf World. “After three or four holes there was nothing I could do. I ran out of ideas.

“I just told him. ‘I feel for you.’ ”

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Trivia time: Who holds the World Series record for hits, singles and doubles?

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Future shock: Sean Elliott, on the worst-case scenario for the San Antonio Spurs in the off-season:

“See that [car] over there? Drive it to a bad neighborhood and leave it there for three days. Then go back and see how much has been stripped.

“That’s what this team will look like if Tim Duncan leaves. There might be a window switch left.”

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Not tested yet: Tim Tucker of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, putting the Braves’ recent 15-game win streak in perspective:

“The Braves haven’t played a team yet that figures to make the postseason--no, I don’t think the Dodgers or Giants are going to make it--and the schedule remains tame and therefore unrevealing for the next few weeks.”

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The Rocker file: Ron Rapoport in the Chicago Sun-Times: “I’m afraid John Rocker’s entire life is turning into a balk. One anti-Rocker banner displayed by some fans Monday in Miami said, ‘RocKKKer.’ It was confiscated before the first pitch.”

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Perseverance: Hot Rod Hundley, the former Laker player and now the Utah Jazz play-by-play announcer, is getting his degree from West Virginia--43 years after he attended and played for the school.

He’ll get his bachelor of arts in physical education in Morgantown on Sunday.

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Time out! Richard Wilner of the New York Post, on wrestling czar Vince McMahon’s XFL pro football league:

“Each XFL team will probably employ a dance instructor because each team will have a unique end zone dance.

“What does that have to do with football? Nothing. But then what does the WWF have to do with wrestling?”

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Looking back: On this day in 1992, the Portland Trail Blazers won the highest-scoring playoff game in NBA history, a 153-151 double-overtime victory over the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference semifinals.

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Trivia answer: Yogi Berra, 71 hits, 49 singles and 10 doubles (tied with Frankie Frisch).

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And finally: General Manager Kevin McHale of the Minnesota Timberwolves on Isaiah Rider, who wore out his welcome in Minnesota, Portland and Atlanta but is expected to get another opportunity next season, perhaps in Miami:

“The good thing about our league is, as many bridges as you burn, you’ve got to burn 29 to be out of it.”