MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / June 3, 2000

Things to ponder while waiting out a rain delay at the French Open…Darrell Green gave new meaning to running the 40 earlier this week.

Shortly after signing a fiev-year, $10 million deal with Washington, Green went out and ran a 4.24-second 40. At the age of 40. Most of the youngstuds at the combine this year could not come close to that mark.

Isn’t it ironic that pitchers are throwing fewer innings today and are allowing more runs but are getting paid much more than their predecessors? Speaking of pitching, were there two better games in the majors this year than the Pedro Martinez-Roger Clemens, Geeg Maddux-Jon Lieber pitching duels Sunday and Monday? Watching Martinez and Maddux paint the corners is one of the true joys in sports.

Poor Clemens. Sunday night, he matches Martinez’s masterpiece bypitching a five-hitter against Boston, striking out 13, but loses on a two- out home run by Trot Nixon. In his next start, he could go up againstMaddux. And to top it off, he finally gets the world championship ring hehas been waiting his whole career for and it has the wrong number on it.

So how was your week? Stop the world, I want to get off. First, Edwin Edwards is found guilty,then Randy Velarde turns an unassisted triple play Monday. What next,peace in Northern Ireland? And the ironic thing about Velarde’s triple play, just the 11th in the major leagues, is that it was his error on the previous play that set it up.

You think the Cubs’ organization would learn after that ugly incident against the Dodgersa few weeks ago. But Monday, vendors were stillserving beer into the ninth inning and “fans” were still going down to the bullpen to harass the players. Enough is enough. And you wonder why thisis a franchise that has not won a pennant since 1945? I think they can incribe the name on the PGA’s Player of the Year award already. That’s T-i-g-e-r-W-o-o-d-s. A five-stroke victory and a nearcourse record at the Memorial this weekend for his second straight win in the tournament? Whose invitational is this, Jack Nicklaus’ or Woods’? And check out the World Golf Rankings this week. Woods is first with a 24.81average. The next closest is David Duval at 10.88. So who’s playing forsecond at the U.S. Open in two weeks? While on the subject of the PGA, why does it feel the need to appeal the decision to allow Casey Martin to use a cart on the tour to the Supreme Court? It’s not like he is tearing up the tour. If the powers that be think hehas an unfair advantage, let them play with his handicap.

Bobby Knight did ok in his first test Tuesday, appearing on ESPN after answering a group of reporters’ questions during the day. But you wonderif the extra scrutiny on Knight now will only make things worse.

Finally, the first college football preview magazines have already hit the shelves. Isn’t this just the beginning of June?

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