Kruk’s Grubbiness, Irascibility Seem to Be Made for America

USA Today reports that if there is one guy who boosted his off-the-field opportunities in Tuesday’s All Star game, it was Philadelphia first baseman John Kruk:

“Call this guy a sitcom. John Kruk is America.

“Kruk’s attraction is his grubbiness. His batting helmet looks like he played high school football in it. His uniform always has that slept-in look. And he has the quirky, grumpy personality to match.”

Trivia time: What do Doug Weaver, Mark Wiebe, Jerry Pate and Nick Price have in common besides being professional golfers?

Altered course: Jeff Brehaut of Vacaville, Calif., was the 17-hole leader of the Nike Dakota Dunes Open in Dakota Dunes, S.D.

Flood waters from the Missouri River eliminated one hole from the tournament.

The green of the par-three, 213-yard eighth hole was cut off from the rest of the course by water that covered an access bridge. Other holes were soggy from floodwaters, but playable.

Brehaut shot a 62. He doesn’t have to tell anyone that he skipped a hole.

FYI: The Colorado Rockies lead the major leagues in merchandise sales. It is theorized that a team’s colors attract buyers, and consumers apparently like the Rockies’ black-and-purple scheme.

Stay on the bench: Guy Benjamin, a former Stanford quarterback who was once a backup to Joe Montana with the San Francisco 49ers, told the Kansas City Star that Montana didn’t want to share his position--not even for a minute.

“When I was there, Joe didn’t want me to get on the field,” Benjamin said. “I posed no real threat to him. But it was his offense, and he wasn’t about to give anybody else a chance.”

Sparky’s logic: Detroit Manager Sparky Anderson, commenting on Cincinnati General Manager Jim Bowden’s firing Manager Tony Perez:

“The guy who did it has to be the stupidest person in the world. If he’s so smart now that he can fire him after just 44 games, he had to be dumb to hire him.”

Bond’s bunker: San Francisco Examiner columnist Art Spander, reporting from the British Open: “St. George’s is where author Ian Fleming picked up many of his story ideas around the bar, but obviously didn’t pick up the ball a lot when he was playing since he carried a handicap of 007--well, 7.”

Tedious routine: Gene Collier of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, suggesting a way to speed up baseball:

“Prohibit pitchers who reach base from asking for, receiving or being fitted for jackets. Not only does this ridiculous drama require delivery from the dugout, but the guy who brings it out, sensing his opportunity, always stays long enough to help the pitcher on with it rather than hand him the thing.

“He stops short of buttoning the thing and giving the pitcher a kiss on the cheek.”

Trivia answer: They all scored holes in one within two hours at the 1989 U.S. Open at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, N.Y.

Quotebook: Peter May of the Boston Globe: “Eric Dickerson has landed in Atlanta, which probably means two things: He’ll play well--and he’ll become unhappy.”