If Only Charlie Hustle Had Been There

It was 25 years ago today that Mrs. O’Leary’s cow took a backseat to the likes of the Bee Gees in Chicago. At Disco Demolition Night, a promotion sponsored by radio station WLUP, a large box of disco records was blown up on the field of old Comiskey Park between games of a doubleheader involving the White Sox and Detroit Tigers.

As Jim Kirk of the Chicago Tribune wrote: “If you’re from Chicago, you know the story: Things got out of hand, with many of the 50,000 attending the White Sox game storming the field and forcing the Sox to forfeit the second game.... At the time and for many years after, it was considered one of Chicago’s biggest black eyes.”

More disco: Revisionist history being what it is, Disco Demolition Night is being looked upon fondly these days, almost “Woodstock-esque.” The Tribune reported that a documentary, “Disco Demolition 25th Anniversary: The Real Story,” will air in Chicago tonight.

“And in many ways, it’s a reflection of the change in the city in that time,” Kirk wrote. “In 1979, Chicago was on its heels. Manufacturing, along with its jobs, was leaving the city. Crime was up. Its business swagger was down.

“That disco demolition had become a rallying point for thousands of people reflected the city’s angry mood and pent-up anxiety at the time.”

Trivia time: How many All-Star games did Dodger Hall of Fame left-hander Sandy Koufax start?

Looking back: On this day in 1930, Bobby Jones won the U.S. Open, becoming the only golfer to win the U.S. Open, the British Open, the U.S. Amateur and the British Amateur in the same year.

Food for thought: If Shaquille O’Neal is indeed gone to Miami, did he do enough in his eight seasons with the Lakers to warrant his No. 34 being retired and joining the likes of Elgin Baylor’s No. 22, Gail Goodrich’s No. 25, Magic Johnson’s No. 32, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s No. 33, James Worthy’s No. 42 and Jerry West’s No. 44 at the top of the south wall in Staples Center?

Note: The No. 13 jersey of Wilt Chamberlain, whose Laker career included five seasons and one title (in 1972), was retired by the team.

Ouch: Comedy writer John Quinlen’s full disclosure notes for Shaq’s real estate agent: “The intercom system makes the user sound like they are mumbling, the basket on the backyard court curves right and extends about six inches when the user is on the free-throw line, the electrical outlet for the treadmill doesn’t work, there are Nestle Crunch wrappers strewn all over the place and the cases of unsold Shaq-brand clothes in the garage are included.”

Trivia answer: One. In 1966, Koufax struck out one and gave up a hit and a run in three innings of the National League’s 10-inning, 2-1 victory in St. Louis, where it was 105 degrees at first pitch.

And finally: From Channel 9’s Alan Massengale:

“I understand, while traveling through Italy, Laker owner Dr. Jerry Buss has been studying and contemplating the ruins. You know, ancient Pompeii, the Colosseum and the Lakers without Shaq.”