The Running Off of the Bulls Is a Sad Thought

Bernie Lincicome of the Chicago Tribune writing on the possible breakup of the NBA champion Chicago Bulls:

“Who won’t miss the Bulls? I miss them already. And there is still a championship to be had.

“What shall we do when all the pieces are scattered, when all the squabbling parts get their fondest wishes?

“[Scottie] Pippen to wherever. Phil Jackson off to Montana. [Michael] Jordan to a fairway bunker. Dennis Rodman on an exhibition tour of Ripley’s.”

*

Trivia time: What is the Masters record for most shots taken on any hole?

*

Golden era for Bear: Bill Lyon of the Philadelphia Inquirer on Jack Nicklaus, who will be playing in his 40th Masters tournament today:

“No American athlete, it says here, dominated his sport as thoroughly, or for as long.

“With apologies to Cal Ripken, Nicklaus has a bit of an unmatched streak going--he is playing in his fifth decade and very soon will be playing in his second century.”

“We’re talking some serious longevity here.”

*

More Masters: Ernie Els, commenting on Lee Westwood, the 24-year-old British pro, who won his first PGA Tour event Sunday in New Orleans: “He is a big danger, man.”

*

Overrated test: How important is the 40-yard dash time at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis in rating a player?

“Only 61 rushes from scrimmage were 40 yards or more during the 1997 NFL season--an average of one every four games,” writes Len Pasquarelli of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

*

Clip and save: Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald on the upcoming NFL draft: “Other than Ryan Leaf, there are no can’t-miss quarterbacks available. Peyton Manning? He’ll be impressive as a rookie or second-year player because he’s had better coaching, longer than anyone else.

“But while Leaf could be another Dan Marino, Manning will probably become Bernie Kosar.”

*

Finally alive: Atlanta Brave relief pitcher Mark Wohlers on learning to pitch and not rely entirely on his 100-mph fastball: “I think I’m pitching now instead of being a brain-dead heaver.”

*

FYI: Rickey Henderson is the second player in major league history to play for a team--the Oakland Athletics--four different times. The other is pitcher Bobo Newsome, who had five stints with the Washington Senators between 1929 and 1953.

*

Looking back: On this day in 1913, the Dodgers made their debut in Brooklyn’s Ebbets Field and lost to the Philadelphia Phillies, 1-0.

*

Trivia answer: Tommy Nakajima of Japan had 13 strokes on the par-five 13th hole in 1978, and Tom Weiskopf had 13 on the par-three 12th hole in 1980.

*

And finally: Phil Rosenthal in the Chicago Sun-Times: “Northwestern opens the football season at home with Nevada Las Vegas. And let’s face it, if there’s a school at home with Las Vegas these days, it’s Northwestern.”