GOLF: In SI's "Golf Plus," Seth Davis profiles Casey
Martin and writes that while Martin is in position to earn
his PGA Tour card, Martin has not had a top-10 finish since
January and "his game's vital signs are fading fast." Davis
adds that while on the Nike Tour, media scrutiny "may have
diminished, but the Tour watches Martin's every move" (SI,
5/18 issue)....Attorneys for IN golf pro Ford Olinger will go
to court today to ask that Olinger be granted a cart for U.S.
Open qualifying. Olinger suffers from the degenerative
condition avascular necrosis in both hips (USA TODAY, 5/14).
MLB: ESPN's Peter Gammons reported that Frank Robinson's
proposals to quicken the pace of MLB games is "working." NL
games are shorter by 5:00, and Robinson reports "that the
umpires are being extremely cooperative." Gammons: "Robinson
is monitoring both leagues very carefully, and he has let
players and coaches know that by the All-Star break he wants
things to liven up." This off-season, Acting Commissioner
Bud Selig "hopes to tackle the issue of the strike zone, one
of the biggest factors in slow games" ("SportsCenter," 5/12).
NOTES: Former Bulls assistant coach Jim Cleamons will be
introduced today as the first coach of the ABL Chicago
franchise (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 5/14)....A crowd of 8,367 were
at the Bradley Center Tuesday, as the Milwaukee Wave beat the
St. Louis Ambush for the NPSL title (USA TODAY, 5/14)....U.S.
Soccer President/MLS Founder Alan Rothenberg was profiled by
Jody Meacham of the SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS. Rothenberg is
looking to become an "investor-operator" in the Clash, and
Meacham wrote he would give the team "a uniquely powerful man
at its head." Rothenberg, whose term at U.S. Soccer ends
this summer, predicts that within five to 10 years, MLS will
be as popular as the NHL (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 5/13).
