He Might Not Mind Being in Bush League

Former Dodger owner Walter O’Malley, former major league managers Dick Williams, Billy Martin and Whitey Herzog and former commissioner Bowie Kuhn are among those on the veterans’ ballot for induction into baseball’s Hall of Fame.

Another former manager, Gene Mauch, was on the preliminary list but failed to make the cut. He was in pretty good company, though. Another who missed was one George W. Bush, former managing partner of the Texas Rangers.

Wonder whatever happened to him.

*

Trivia time: Who will be the highest-paid pitcher in baseball next season, counting base salary only?

*

Turnabout: Seattle fans have enjoyed the Japanese pipeline that brought Ichiro Suzuki and Kazuhiro Sasaki to the Northwest. Now the tables have turned.

Bob Sapp, former Pac-10 lineman of the year at Washington, is one of Japan’s hottest kickboxing performers. The 6-foot-6, 374-pound Sapp recently scored a first-round TKO over three-time World Grand Prix champion Ernesto Hoost.

*

Hype school hoops: Chicago Sun-Times columnist Jay Mariotti wasn’t overly impressed with the TV showing of Ohio prep phenom LeBron James.

“Before James is anointed as anything but The Next Struggling NBA Rookie, he should learn to shoot a jumper that doesn’t hit iron or glass, a malaise that continues to infect the nation’s hoops youth. The verdict: Spend less time in the air, more time on the perimeter, and check back with me in a year or two.”

*

More of the same: Writes ESPN.com columnist Charley Rosen about James: “His transition from offense to defense is shameful. Instead of hustling downcourt, he lingers near the ball, hoping for a steal. His post-up defense offers less resistance than a short summer’s breeze. In short, LeBron James can’t guard his own shadow.”

*

Financial statement: When the $5-million NASCAR Winston Cup awards ceremony in New York coincided with the Perris Auto Speedway awards banquet at Harrison Hall on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds, a Perris press release stated, “The PASSCAR stock car drivers will be dividing up approximately $4,996,000.00 less than their NASCAR counterparts.”

*

Bad as Enron: For a fundraiser, the University of Alabama ordered 4,500 bobblehead dolls of its football coach.

“We thought it’d make the perfect Christmas gift for people,” said Daniel Hooper, the school’s marketing director.

Then Dennis Franchione, who had led the Crimson Tide to a 10-3 record this year, quit to coach Texas A&M.; Now, Hooper is asking $15 each for 1,000 dolls, in hopes of recouping his $15,000 cost, and plans to destroy the rest.

*

Trivia answer: Mike Hampton of the Atlanta Braves, $9.5 million.

*

And finally: Hampton is a bit of a kidder, besides being well paid.

While visiting an elementary school in Homosassa, Fla., Hampton was asked by one youngster if he was rich.

His reply, as reported in the St. Petersburg Times: “No, my name is Mike.”

*

-- Shav Glick