Just came across a picture of SI swimsuit model Marisa Miller attending the Kentucky Derby last weekend--wearing a lovely dress and a beautiful wide-brimmed hat typically worn by women at Churchill Downs. Have to admit--my first reaction was wondering if she was in the market for an aging 'stablemate'..........TRIVIA QUESTION: The 1989 Chicago Cubs--who finished 93-69 under manager Don Zimmer--had three starting pitchers who won 16 or more games apiece. Can you name these individuals? Answer to follow..........N.Y. Yankees outfielder Curtis Granderson recently told the New York Post that his choice of dinner guests would be Denzel Washington, Martin Lawrence, and Oprah Winfrey. I'm sorry, but putting chivalry aside and taking bank accounts into consideration, Oprah picks up the entire restaurant tab in this case--and also agrees to pay college tuition for any future members of the Granderson, Washington, AND Lawrence families..........This week in sports history, May 10, 1970: The Boston Bruins win their first Stanley Cup championship in 29 years--winning 4-3 in overtime to complete a four-game sweep of the St. Louis Blues. Boston's winning goal came 40 seconds into overtime as defenseman Bobby Orr deflected a pass from Derek Sanderson past Blues' goalie Glenn Hall--sending the 14,835 fans at Boston Garden into a celebratory frenzy..........ITEM: University of Georgia backup punter Trent Dittmer is arrested on a public intoxication charge; offensive lineman Joshua Parrish is arrested a few days later for making a fake ID and underage possession of alcohol. I am now TOTALLY convinced that this school has reached the point where it should offer a fully-credited course called "Avoiding Jail"--and make it mandatory for any "student athlete" who steps on a gridiron..........**WARNING--DO NOT READ THE FOLLOWING IF YOU HAVE A WEAK STOMACH: I like Ryan Howard of the Phillies a lot, but try to "digest" these #'s, folks. Over his career, he's averaged about 600 at-bats per season. Taking that into consideration--and based on the 5-year, $125 million extension he recently signed--Howard will soon be earning close to $42,000 for EACH at-bat through the year 2016. Rolaids, anyone?..........Just thinking: If Appalachian St. track coach April Smith married former big league catcher Milt May, divorced, then married East Carolina martial arts instructor Charles June, she'd then be known as April May June..........Another reason why I'm perturbed at Mr. Eldrick Woods? From this day forward, every time I'm reminded of REO Speedwagon's album Hi Infidelity, I'll most likely think of TIGER--and not about the terrific selection of songs on that compilation..........Answer to trivia question: GREG MADDUX (19), MIKE BIELECKI (18), and RICK SUTCLIFFE (16)..........Great stuff: While on the radio last week, N.Y. Mets broadcaster Howie Rose said he had just spoken to former pitcher Jim Kaat about pitch counts and the difference between the pitcher of today vs. the one of a past generation. Kaat told Rose that--during his day--the value of a hurler's particular outing wasn't quite known until the following day because it was simply performance-based--NOT pitch-based..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former major league outfielder Jerry Martin--who blows out 61 candles on May 11th. A native of South Carolina who attended Furman, Martin played 11 seasons in the "bigs" between 1974 and 1984--hitting a modest .251 lifetime. Playing for five different teams during his MLB tenure, Martin hit 85 home runs lifetime with almost HALF of them coming during the 1979 and 1980 seasons (while with the Cubs)--when he hit 19 and 23 respectively. Sadly, he was one of four members of the 1983 K.C. Royals who pleaded guilty to misdemeanor cocaine charges and was sentenced to 90 days in a federal penitentiary; he later served as a minor league bench coach in the Philadelphia organization. Here's wishing you well, Jerry...........Finally, condolences go out to the family of former NBA player Kevin Restani--who died recently of a heart attack at the age of 58. A terrific-shooting forward who played at the University of San Francisco, Restani spent eight seasons in the NBA as a member of the Bucks, Kings, Spurs, and Cavaliers. His best NBA season came in 1979-'80 when he averaged 10.7 points per game while in San Antonio; he later played professionally in Italy. In recent years, he spent time as a high school counselor and substitute teacher. May Kevin Restani rest in peace.
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