GARTH BROOKS' tryout with the Padres is profiled in a
USA TODAY Sports section Cover Story by David Leon Moore,
who writes that at spring training, Brooks "signed
autographs for two hours ... [and] was so polite you forgot
it was baseball you were watching" (USA TODAY, 2/26).
Brooks: "I know the only reason I'm here is because my name
is Garth Brooks" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 2/25)....SHAQUILLE
O'NEAL will appear at the Magic fashion trade show in March
to promote the relaunch of his T.W.is.M sportswear line
(T.W.Is.M)....D'Backs P RANDY JOHNSON, on meeting PRESIDENT
CLINTON yesterday at the team's spring training complex: "He
just seemed like a nice guy." D'Backs P BRIAN ANDERSON was
the only member of the team not to shake hands with the
President and is "at the opposite end of the political
spectrum" from him: "I was under orders from top members of
management and ownership to behave myself and watch my
mouth. And the next thing I know they wouldn't let me
anywhere near him" (AP, 2/25)....In Orange County, John
Reger wrote that there is "speculation there is a rift
between" MIKE "FLUFF" COWAN, who has been TIGER WOODS'
caddie since his pro debut in '96, and the golfer since
Cowan is "off the bag for the second time in three weeks."
But Woods said, "Fluff and I are great. We'll always be
friends" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 2/25)....Nike is
establishing an endowed scholarship fund at Penn State to
honor football coach JOE PATERNO (USA TODAY, 2/26).
