Two Sides Play Some Hardball

When arbitrator Richard Bloch heard the case that resulted in Detroit Tigers pitcher Jack Morris being awarded $1.85 million a year, the hearing was held at Chicago’s Sheraton-O’Hare Hotel, where the Detroit Free Press had a couple of reporters staked out.

During the 4 1/2-hour meeting, a white-coated waiter wheeled his coffee cart into the hearing room, then left almost immediately with the same full urn.

When the reporters asked why, the waiter said: “No one in there would sign for it.�

Former Laker guard Hot Rod Hundley, now a Utah Jazz announcer, told Hoop magazine that it’s only a matter of time before the Lakers retire his number.

“They’re just waiting until that big guy gets through with it,� Hundley said.

Hundley wore No. 33.

For the Record: The St. Louis Hawks beat the Boston Celtics in six games, not seven, to win the NBA title in 1957-58. Note: Boston’s Bill Russell sprained an ankle in the third game and didn’t play in the last three. It was Boston’s only title loss in 10 straight years.

George Foreman was a bitter man after his loss to Muhammad Ali in Zaire, accusing the Ali camp of all sorts of nefarious plots, but he told the New York Times the two got together in Las Vegas before the Mike Tyson-Trevor Berbick fight.

“We talked about weight,� said Foreman, who was over 300 pounds early this year. “Get him going and Ali’s still the greatest show on earth. I love that guy. He whipped me, but he’s still my cat.�

Trivia Time: When Lou Brock of the St. Louis Cardinals stole his 105th base against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1974, breaking Maury Wills’ record, who was the Philadelphia catcher? (Answer below.)

Wait a Minute: Indiana basketball Coach Bob Knight, applauding the NCAA’s sanctions against Southern Methodist, said: “I’ve always said I don’t know why the Methodist Church maintains an affiliation with SMU.�

He added: “That’s what I like about Notre Dame. The Catholics know how to play and win without cheating. I’m a Methodist, and apparently we don’t. So I’m glad to see that happen.�

How would he explain what happened at the University of San Francisco?

Ed Whitson was driven out of New York by Yankee Stadium fans, but Rick Rhoden, another pitcher coming over from the National League, sees no problem. He said he was properly conditioned by the fans in Pittsburgh.

“Last year,� he said, “I got booed on opening day, and I hadn’t even thrown a ball yet.�

Walter Davis of the Phoenix Suns, asked if there was anything different in the first practice under new Coach Dick Van Arsdale, said there was:

“It was shorter.�

Pro golfer Leonard Thompson, on golf architect Pete Dye, who designed the controversial PGA West course: “Thank goodness he isn’t building airports.�

In a game between New York University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stan Isaacs of Newsday said cable announcer Bruce Beck was putting the emphasis on academics.

Isaacs: “With the score 30-27, Beck was just about to say, ‘It’s NYU the square root of 900 to MIT 3 cubed,’ when a shooter made a basket, foiling his mathematical call.�

Trivia Answer: Bob Boone.

Quotebook

Kevin McHale of the Boston Celtics, after scoring 11 points in the first 2 1/2 minutes against the Denver Nuggets: “The game plan was for me to score the first 212, but I got tired.�