New School of Thought on College Basketball

The drafting of high school players by NBA teams may have some college authorities, and some journalists, wringing their hands over the situation, but not Norman Chad, a syndicated columnist.

“America loves to stoke these false moral issues,” Chad wrote. “In this case, part of it involves the mythology of college basketball--for that precious game, filled with the wonder of student-athletes, must be preserved as an endangered species. Don’t get me started.

“To this end, I will simply say what I always say: College basketball has absolutely nothing to do with college.”

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More prep talk: Chicago Sun-Times columnist Jay Mariotti’s take on the Chicago Bulls getting high school stars Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler:

“Call them the Twin Toddlers.”

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Trivia time: What is the height of the grass on Wimbledon’s Center Court?

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Gotta have one: Michael Jordan may, or may not, be returning to the NBA next season, but there’s no end to his memorabilia. Latest is a porcelain figurine, six to nine inches high, to be manufactured by Upper Deck Co. with the Danbury Mint.

Asking price: $210.

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Day dreams: When prep phenom Kwame Brown was drafted by the Washington Wizards, Jordan, the club’s president, said he planned to have the teenager stay at his home in Chicago, where he could provide one-on-one coaching in head-to-head games.

“My big dream is to beat him one day,” Brown said.

Answered Jordan: “That is a dream.”

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Good reason: Chi Chi Rodriguez, asked why he hasn’t performed his trademark matador’s dance very often recently:

“I don’t do it after bogeys.”

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You call this a gift?: Tennis fans lucky enough to catch a glimpse of Wimbledon’s Center Court can now take home a souvenir to prolong the memory: A shop at the All England Club is selling stationery containing grass clippings taken from the lawn mowers that manicure the 14,000-capacity arena.

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Career change: Pitcher John Burkett was in a coin-operated laundry, washing his clothes with every intention of retiring from baseball and going home. He had just been released by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

“I had just tossed a load in the washer when my agent called and said the Atlanta Braves wanted to talk with me,” said Burkett, 36. “By the time I put them in the dryer, I had made a deal.”

That was 15 months ago. Today, Burkett leads the National League with a 2.35 earned-run average.

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Trivia answer: One-third of an inch.

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And finally: President Bush has brought T-Ball into the national spotlight, but a baseball card for a 7-year-old?

Yep, there’s one out. Cody Dean Aldridge, 7 years old, it says below his picture on one side. On the back, just like Barry Bonds, Tony Gwynn, Derek Jeter and all the big boys, are his stats: Bats left, throws left. 11 games, batting average 1.000. 18 home runs. 4 triples. 4 doubles. 4 singles. O outs. Coach--Javier Martinez, Mighty Mites T-Ball Slow Pitch. Azusa Parks & Recreation Department.

Might be a collector’s item in 20 years.