One-Man Lunch Bunch

You can believe this or not, but the Chicago Tribune reports that Mike Tyson, while filming a TV commercial on Long Island, had the following for lunch:

“Six plates of sushi, two dozen raw clams, two dozen steamed clams, two plates of pasta with lobster and shrimp, blackberry cheesecake, strawberries with fresh cream and five glasses of orange juice.”

The story didn’t say how much it cost but said, “The TV station picked up the tab.”

Add Tribune: TV-radio critic Steve Nidetz said Chicago Cubs announcer Harry Caray belongs in the Hall of Fame but added: “He has obviously stayed too long in the booth. He’s plugged too many restaurants, mispronounced too many names, missed too many plays. He has become an annoying, unfunny parody of himself who detracts from the games he broadcasts.”

More Tribune: After a night on the town by Big Ten Conference football coaches, Iowa’s Hayden Fry told this one to columnist Linda Kay: “Chicago has really changed a lot. We went out to one place and all the guys were wearing black leather jackets. I looked around at the architecture trying to figure out what kind of place it was, and finally I got up enough nerve to ask the fellow I was dancing with.”

Trivia Time: What do managers Pete Rose, Joe Morgan and Tom Trebelhorn have in common this season? Hint: They’re not bragging about it. (Answer below.)

Add Morgan: After doing a stint for ABC-TV, he said: “I was on ‘Mr. America’ or ‘Wake Up, America’ or whatever it’s called.”

It’s called, “Good Morning, America.”

Wayne Gretzky didn’t do Milwaukee any favors when he moved to Los Angeles. On Oct. 1, the Milwaukee Admirals of the International Hockey League are playing host to a game between the Edmonton Oilers and the Chicago Blackhawks in the city’s new 16,000-seat arena.

Phil Wittliff, general manager of the Admirals, told the Milwaukee Journal Aug. 10 that he still thought the game would sell out, even though the Oilers no longer have Gretzky.

Also, he said: “I can honestly tell you I’d rather have the Edmonton Oilers without Gretzky than the Los Angeles Kings with Gretzky. There’s no question Edmonton is a much better team without Gretzky than L.A. is with him.”

Note: On Aug. 21, all 16,000 seats had been sold.

From Pedro Guerrero, who has raised his average from .298 to .303 since moving from Los Angeles to St. Louis: “I think I was born to hit .300 and I’d like to keep it that way.”

ABC announcer Al Michaels, recalling his 12-game stint as Chick Hearn’s colorman several years ago, told Rich Marrotta of Prime Ticket: “I even got to say something in eight of the games.”

25 Years Ago Today: On Sept. 1, 1963, Curt Simmons tripled twice, drove in two runs and stole home while pitching the St. Louis Cardinals to a 7-3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. According to the Associated Press, he was the last pitcher to steal home until Rick Sutcliffe of the Chicago Cubs did it this year.

Trivia Answer: All three have turned in incorrect lineups.

Quotebook

Former Houston Astros reliever Charlie Kerfeld, on how he’s managed to trim his weight from 275 to 245 pounds in the minor leagues: “Meal money in the Southern League is $13 a day.”