So Much for Yankee Tradition

When Brien Taylor, the New York Yankees’ No. 1 draft pick who signed out of high school for $1.55 million, was assigned to pitching instructor Ron Guidry, he asked, “Who? I’m not familiar with that name.�

A three-time 20-game winner, Guidry won the American League Cy Young Award in 1978 when he went 25-3 with a 1.74 earned-run average. He also was named Associated Press’ male athlete of the year.

Tall story: Tom Kendall’s dream for as long as he can remember has been to drive in the Indianapolis 500. He seems to be right on schedule, except for one thing: He is growing too tall. Kendall says he is 6 feet 4 but may be taller, probably too tall for the tiny Indy car cockpits.

After both his feet were broken in a sports car accident last June at Watkins Glen, N.Y., the UCLA graduate made an operating room request to orthopedic surgeon Terry Trammell: “Could you shorten me up a little?�

Trivia time: Only two men have played in the U.S. Open in both golf and tennis. Who are they?

Personal priorities: Gene Collier of the Pittsburgh Press says that he will not vote for Barry Bonds as MVP in 1992.

“I don’t care if Barry Bonds hits 100 homers, drives in 300 runs and has the personality of Ernie Banks surgically transplanted into his upper lobe, I’m not voting for him for MVP,� Collier said. “The reason is the $250,000 bonus the Pirates will pay him if he wins it.

“As the surveyors always say, ya gotta draw the line somewhere. I’m drawing it at helping a guy who is making $4.7 million this year make $250,000 extra. No thanks.�

But can he dunk? Jacob Dunk is a reserve forward for the No. 1 ranked Clinton High team in Iowa.

Tall enough: The Baltimore Orioles’ starting rotation averages almost 6 feet 5.

Ben McDonald and Rick Sutcliffe are 6-7, Storm Davis and Bob Milacki are 6-4 and Mike Mussina is 6-2. Dennis Rasmussen could increase the average if he can break into the rotation. He is 6-7.

“I’m the point guard--I move the ball around,� Mussina said.

Similar script: Columnist Mitch Album of the Detroit Free Press, on the similarity between bobsledding and bank robberies: “I rarely go to bobsled races because I can see the same thing at a bank robbery. Two guys in masks coming running out, jump in a vehicle, duck and drive away. Big deal.�

Trivia answer: Ellsworth Vines and Frank Conner, who is playing in the Los Angeles Open this week at Riviera.

Takes one to know one: Cincinnati Red relief pitcher Rob Dibble said last year he would see a psychologist to help him control his temper.

“I saw the guy twice,� Dibble said, “and I thought he was crazier that I was.�

Quotebook: Jack Clark, to San Francisco Examiner columnist Art Spander, on escalating salaries in baseball: “Guys like Willie Mays, Catfish Hunter and Juan Marichal, all Hall of Famers, must look at today’s salaries like Frank Sinatra looks at rap music.�