Old, Bad Habits Died Hard at Augusta

Even after the Masters victory by Tiger Woods, it’s hard to forget how recently discrimination was the rule at the Augusta tournament.

Wrote columnist Gene Collier of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: “At least as late as 1988, the last time I was at the Masters, blacks working the concession stands along the course were not allowed to handle money. They could take your sandwich order and hand you your food, but cash had to be given to a white person.”

A new era: Woods edged Michael Jordan in a poll asking corporate executives to pick the athlete they would most want to endorse their products.

Trivia time: The first game played at Boston’s Fenway Park was April 20, 1912. But the Red Sox couldn’t even get on the front page of Boston’s newspapers the next day because of a bigger story. What was it?

One man’s view: “Dennis Rodman is getting hosed,” wrote Tony Kornheiser of the Washington Post. “NBA referees are calling personal fouls on him that they wouldn’t call on other players, and hitting him with technical fouls if he so much as raises his eyebrows. (By the way, does Dennis still have eyebrows, or has he tweezed them off?) Rodman gets teed up quicker than a balata ball at the Masters.

“Against Atlanta, he got his first technical just two minutes into the game. He is the only guy in the league who can get a tech before the anthem is done. And his routine ejections may end up killing the Bulls, who are smaller up front, and thinner off the bench than they used to be.

“Their frustration with Rodman is immeasurable; their need for him is immense.”

Another man’s view: “Michael Jordan can’t do this by himself,” wrote Michael Wilbon of the Post. “He’s 34. He gets tired. Especially when he has to rebound because Rainbowhead is sitting on the bench in foul trouble as he was Thursday, or in the locker room as he was Tuesday.”

He also rips the shirt: “NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman didn’t have to suspend Buffalo Sabre goalie Dominik Hasek for three games for ripping some sportswriter’s shirt,” wrote Jim Armstrong of the Denver Post. “If the guy is like every other sportswriter I know, he bought it at Target.”

Trivia answer: The sinking of the Titanic several days earlier.

And finally: Daniel Lima of Glastonbury, Conn., said he was hit in the nose when his shot bounced off a yardage marker 10 feet away and ricocheted back at him last spring at the Minnichaug Golf Course. He, along with his wife, is suing the course for more than $15,000 for his troubles.

Course manager Susan Phelps called the suit ridiculous. “We didn’t hit the ball,” she said. “He hit the ball.”