They’re Not Worried About a Fair Chair

Hootie Johnson will hold a news conference today, just as chairmen of Augusta National Golf Club traditionally do on the eve of the Masters.

And, if tradition holds true, he will sidestep the issue of the day -- the club’s lack of a female member.

In 1999, in his first news conference as chairman, Johnson was asked how many African American members there were at Augusta, and how many female members.

His reply: “Well, that’s a club matter, ma’am, and all club matters are private.”

Apparently, Johnson learned well from his predecessor, Jack Stephens, who, during his tenure, was asked for an update on when the club might allow the front nine of the tournament to be televised.

“Progress is slow,” he replied.

Why so slow, a reporter pressed.

“Well,” he drawled, “progress is slow because we don’t want it to happen.”

Title tilt: It’s hard to believe that only a year ago Carmelo Anthony and Gerry McNamara, stars for Syracuse in its national basketball championship game victory, were playing in high school.

They combined for 38 points in an 81-78 victory over Kansas and were cool down the stretch in holding off a late Jayhawk rally.

It wasn’t until afterward, in describing his emotions, that McNamara slipped up.

“It’s hard to believe,” he told Bloomberg News. “I’m sure when we go back [home] and thousands of people are tipping over our bus, it will kind of sink in.”

Tough town, Syracuse.

Foul farewell: Rick Morrissey of the Chicago Tribune, commenting on the resignation of Bull General Manager Jerry Krause: “He was the man Michael Jordan loathed. He was the butt of Jordan’s jokes ... He was the guy who might have needed a shove Monday to leave the organization.

“Krause’s weakness was his consuming need for credit, and to get that credit, he was willing to tear apart the Bulls and pass up a chance for another championship.”

Trivia time: Who holds the record for highest average of assists in an NBA playoff series?

First impressions: Cleveland Indian pitcher Terry Mulholland is married to Kiara Hunter, a singer from Vancouver. He told the Akron (Ohio) Beacon Journal that she wasn’t impressed on her first visit to his home.

“She thought I was a drug dealer,” Mulholland said, “because I was young, had this big place, and didn’t work during the day.”

Rip-off: The Washington Wizards are offering a ticket to Michael Jordan’s final home game, Monday against the New York Knicks, to fans who buy a 10-game package for next season.

“In other words,” Barbara Barker wrote in Newsday, “for as little as $390, you can see Jordan one last time, then get stuck with 10 worthless tickets to watch Kwame Brown and company.”

Trivia answer: The Lakers’ Magic Johnson, 17.0 against Portland in 1985.

And finally: “Are you excited about baseball being back?” David Letterman asked. “I love it. I mean the leather, the pine tar, the rosin -- and that’s just the hot dogs.”