One Pitcher Stood Out From All the Rest

Tim Kurkjian of ESPN The Magazine writes that a conversation took place on a quiet bus many years ago: “Frank Robinson, one of the greatest players ever, one of the most confident hitters of all time, was asked how he had done against Bob Gibson in his career.

“ ‘I hit him good,’ Robinson said. Don Drysdale? ‘Good,’ he said. Juan Marichal? ‘Real good,’ he said. Robinson was stopped by the next question. What about Koufax?

“ ‘No one could hit that man,’ Robinson said.”

Trivia time: Which pitcher holds the major league record for strikeouts in a season?

Where’s Brandi? Ron Rapoport in the Chicago Sun-Times, commenting on the World Cup: “As for marketing opportunities for U.S. players, don’t hold your breath. Some experts doubt any of them will be able to do as well in that department as Brandi Chastain did just for ripping off her shirt after the victory over China in the Women’s World Cup three years ago.

“By the way, has anybody heard from Chastain recently?”

Get with it: Filip Bondy of the New York Daily News writes that it’s time for Americans to appreciate soccer: “You don’t have to be afraid of soccer. Really. If you just go out and learn a few names, a few rules, you’ll become one of America’s great experts.

“Soccer isn’t morally reprehensible, like boxing. It’s not exploitative, like women’s gymnastics. It’s not going to steal your NFL Sundays. It won’t wreck the Mets vs. Yankees. Soccer is a niche sport in this country, like hockey or tennis or golf.”

Are they breathing? Skip Bayless of the San Jose Mercury News laments that no one is seriously challenging Tiger Woods: “But just once, you’d love to see a member of the Bridesmaid Brigade show a little get-him-next-time irritation.

“Just a little remorse and resolve, just to let Woods know they still have a pulse.”

This Bud is for you: Jerry Greene in the Orlando Sentinel: “Mike Veeck, owner of the independent St. Paul Saints baseball team, did as he promised--giving out 2,500 seat cushions with the face of Commissioner Bud Selig on one side and the face of union boss Don Fehr on the other.

“Reports indicate almost everyone chose to sit on Bud.”

Why bother: From comedy writer Earl Hochman: “Fifty two-year-old Larry Holmes meeting Eric ‘Butterbean’ Esch in a one-fight comeback on July 27 might be best compared to putting up a new flag pole on a condemned building.”

Soliciting customers: Sign at Higgins’ Tavern in Chicago: “Positively No World Cup Soccer Shown Here.”

Trivia answer: Nolan Ryan of the Angels, 383, in 1973.

And finally: An Ohio judge known for creative sentencing ordered a man who ran from police to run in a five-mile race instead of serving six months in jail.

Michael Logar, 33, will spend 10 days in jail with work-release privileges and will get up to four hours training time daily to prepare for the race.

Earlier this year, Judge Michael Cicconetti ordered a man who called a police officer a pig to stand in a pen with a 350-pound pig for two hours on a city sidewalk.