Barkley Has Own Take on Tiger Phenomenon

Charles Barkley, an avid golfer, admires Tiger Woods’ talent, but there’s one thing he doesn’t like about him--his influence on the game.

“Because of him, all these people who have no business on a golf course will start playing,” the Houston Rocket forward told David Casstevens of the Arizona Republic. “People who don’t have clue will be out there hacking, slicing, snap-hooking.”

Barkley said he would like to play with Woods some day, if Woods gives him one stroke a hole in a friendly wager.

It may not be enough.

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Trivia time: Who holds the NBA playoff record for most rebounds in one quarter?

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Pickup or delivery? Loel Schrader, former columnist of the Long Beach Press-Telegram, recalled this incident by prankster Moe Drabowsky, a former major league pitcher:

“Drabowsky is famous for using a bullpen phone to call Hong Kong to order four Chop Suey dinners to go.”

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Yabba dabba doo: Colorado Rocky outfielder Dante Bichette on why he was getting his big toe drained after fouling a ball off it:

“Ever see how Fred Flintstone’s toe swells up after he stubs it? Well, I don’t want to look like Fred Flintstone anymore.”

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Consistent behavior: Ron Reid in the Philadelphia Inquirer: “QB Jim McMahon, dumped by Green Bay after the Super Bowl, added another no-class move to his resume when he wore a Bears jersey to the White House during the Packers’ visit with President Clinton. McMahon’s last season in Chicago was 1989.”

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Snow-bound fans: The Buffalo Bills have yet to reach a long-term lease agreement at Rich Stadium, but retired quarterback Jim Kelly believes the franchise will stay put:

“If they don’t, there will be a lot of suicides. In November and December what else is there to do in Buffalo?”

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Party time: San Antonio point guard Avery Johnson said his household went crazy when the Spurs won the NBA lottery, providing them with the opportunity to draft Wake Forest center Tim Duncan.

“I haven’t seen my wife run that fast since she was on the treadmill,” Johnson said.

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FYI: Michael Martinez of the San Jose Mercury News reports that 45 Hispanics had already spent time in the big leagues when Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s color line in 1947.

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Looking back: On this day in 1957, National League owners approved the proposed moves of the Dodgers and Giants to the West Coast, opening the door for relocations that became official in the fall.

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Trivia answer: Bill Russell of the Boston Celtics, with 19 against the Lakers on April 18, 1962.

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And finally: Professional golf is not a glamorous, or comfortable experience if you’re competing on the Asian tour.

“It’s hot, the food is bad, you get sick a lot and the bus rides are always two hours from the hotel to the course,” Larry Barber told Bill Huffman of the Arizona Republic. “You can’t drink the water or eat the salad. You do weird things, like brush your teeth with bottled water.”