He Pushed the Umpire Past Outer Limits of His Patience

The public relations director for the minor league Greensboro (N.C) Hornets was ejected from the stadium in handcuffs Tuesday night for playing the theme song from “The Twilight Zone” after a called third strike.

Jerry Burkot was operating the sound-effects system when he was ejected by sheriff’s deputies who were following the orders of umpire Jim Reynolds.

“It came as quite a surprise. We’ll see how it shakes out,” Burkot said.

Monday, Burkot had been warned not to play the “Twilight Zone” theme music.

The Hornets, a Class-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, lead the South Atlantic League with a 23-9 record. Greensboro defeated Fayetteville, 6-5, Tuesday night.

Trivia time: What do Punch Imlach, Hap Day and Newsy Lalonde have in common?

Doc Parcells: Bill Parcells, the new coach of the New England Patriots, has left little doubt that he is in complete charge.

Reporters will not have access to the Patriot doctor or trainer for information.

“If my doctor talks to the press, he’s out of here,” Parcells told the Boston Globe. “Same thing with the trainer. All that stuff comes from me.”

OK, Bill how are you at describing anterior cruciate ligament damage?

Base hits for bogeys? Mike Schmidt, the retired Philadelphia Phillie standout, will make his pro debut in another sport, golf, when he plays in a Nike tour event May 20 in Springboro, Ohio.

Schmidt, 43, has shot as low as 68, although it was in a non-competitive situation. His best score in competition is 74.

“I have an eye toward being a scratch golfer,” he said. “Where that will lead, I don’t exactly know.”

Looking back: Bill Walton, who was inducted into the basketball Hall of Fame on Monday, led UCLA to the NCAA championship in 1971-72 and ‘72-73. The Bruins had an 86-4 record in his three seasons. The four defeats were inflicted by Notre Dame, Oregon, Oregon State and North Carolina State, the Wolfpack dumping the Bruins in the NCAA Final Four in 1974.

“Those are games that stand out in my mind,” Walton told Dan Shaughnessy of the Boston Globe. “But UCLA was a fabulous time. That’s why I’m shocked when I see a player leave college early. If people had one-tenth the fun time I had at UCLA, why would they ever leave?”

Spaceman: Indiana Pacer President Donnie Walsh said he continues to be amazed by Michael Jordan. As a science-fiction buff, he wonders who Jordan is.

“I think he is some kind of alien,” Walsh said after Jordan returned from an ankle injury to help defeat the Atlanta Hawks last week. “I think he was kidnaped and brought back here, some kind of E.T. thing.”

Trivia answer: All are members of the hockey Hall of Fame.

Quotebook: California track Coach Erv Hunt on the difficulty of fielding good teams, compared to 20 years ago: “I get the cream of the crop; it’s just that the cream isn’t as good.”