The Hubbub May Be Over but the Winning Goes On

Now that Nomomania has lessened, about the only thing Hideo is doing is winning. . . .

After the Dodgers’ 8-4 victory at Pittsburgh on Monday, Nomo (5-2) is on a pace to win 24 games. . . .

If more players had the charm, personality and manners that Angel center fielder Jim Edmonds showed Friday during an appearance at the Orange Country Boat Show, baseball would have a better image. . . .

Maybe Cincinnati outfielder Eric Davis, who hit grand-slam home runs against the San Francisco Giants in consecutive games, isn’t ready for a pipe and slippers at 33, after all. . . .

The Cleveland Indians’ Dennis Martinez, with 236 victories, is the only active major league pitcher who has won more than 200 games. . . .

Closest to Martinez is reliever Dennis Eckersley, now of the St. Louis Cardinals, with 192. . . .

Pitching made a comeback in the American League on Sunday when the seven losing teams scored a total of only nine runs. . . .

The Big West Conference could land as many as four NCAA baseball tournament bids. . . .

Long Beach State finished first in the standings, UC Santa Barbara and Nevada Las Vegas tied for second and defending NCAA champion Cal State Fullerton was fourth. . . .

In a preseason poll of the six Pacific 10 Southern Division coaches, defending champion USC was picked fifth. That is precisely where USC Coach Mike Gillespie selected his team to finish. But, to everyone’s surprise, the Trojans have run away with the title with three games remaining against UCLA Saturday through Monday. . . .

If you buy a sports franchise, change its name to the Galaxy. . . .

The Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer and its German namesake, the Frankfurt Galaxy of the World League of American Football, both are 4-0. . . .

The election of jockey Don Brumfield to the racing Hall of Fame over Gary Stevens is ridiculous. . . .

The more I listen to new Hollywood Park announcer Luke Kruytbosch, the more I appreciate his efficiency and clarity. . . .

California horses not only dominated the Kentucky Derby, they won two important female races at Churchill Downs last week, Pike Place Dancer taking the Kentucky Oaks and Jewel Princess the Louisville Breeders’ Cup Handicap. . . .

Now that Jerry Bailey has won the Derby aboard Grindstone, about all he has to anticipate other than the last two legs of the Triple Crown is riding Cigar the rest of the year. . . .

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Lou Filippo, the referee-judge and former fighter, will be inducted into the Fremont High Hall of Fame on Friday. . . .

Filippo was the only judge who scored in favor of Marvelous Marvin Hagler over Sugar Ray Leonard. . . .

“I still think Hagler won,” says Filippo, who has seen tapes of the bout. . . .

Julio Cesar Chavez, who fights Oscar De La Hoya June 7 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, will conduct a workout Memorial Day at Hollywood Park before the races. . . .

The winner of the Azumah Nelson-James Leija World Boxing Council super featherweight title fight June 1 at Boulder Station in Las Vegas is supposed to fight Gabriel Ruelas, who has lost twice to Nelson and beaten Leija. . . .

Life has begun anew at 38 for Ruth Wysocki, who ran the fastest outdoor 800 meters by a woman this year, 2:00.20, at UC Irvine on Saturday. She will switch to the 1,500 meters in the U.S. Olympic trials June 14-23 at Atlanta. . .

Perhaps the most disappointing King player in recent years has been Robert Lang, who scored two goals for the Czech Republic in its 4-2 victory over Canada in hockey’s World Championships title game. . . .

UCLA’s volleyball title was the 74th in NCAA men’s and women’s team competition for the Bruins, putting them one ahead of USC. . . .

Reggie Miller should be praised for scoring 16 points in the fourth quarter of the Indiana Pacers’ 89-87 loss to the Atlanta Hawks in Game 5, not criticized for missing an off-balance, three-point attempt at the buzzer. . . .

Wonder what Michael Jordan will do in the playoffs once his back heals.