Denver Kids Get Something for Nothing

Denver Nugget guard Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf charged $150 for his summer basketball camp in Denver, but when he heard that several poor youngsters couldn’t come up with the money, he told camp director Shareef Nasir to eliminate the fee.

Some parents had already sent in their $150. According to Mike Monroe of the Denver Post, Abdul-Rauf, who was known as Chris Jackson when he played for Louisiana State, told Nasir to return the money.

“You should have heard some of those parents when I called them and told them I was sending their money back, but the kids could still come to camp,” Nasir said. “They couldn’t believe it.”

Add Abdul-Rauf: More than basketball is taught at his camp. The slender Nugget guard stresses discipline, patience, respect, helping others and sharing--as well as shooting three-pointers.

For his sharing lesson, Abdul-Rauf had each of the youngsters bring canned food, which they then turned over to a shelter for battered women.

Trivia time: What pitcher retired with 363 victories and 363 base hits?

One way to do it: Mark Grace, Chicago Cub first baseman, is one of the slower players in the major leagues, yet he leads the National League in doubles. How come?

“I’ve definitely turned a few triples into doubles,” he said.

A child’s view: When Chris Boardman, one of the Tour de France favorites, fell and broke his ankle in the first mile of the 2,254-mile race, this is how his three children reacted: “Great! Daddy’s coming home.”

Family pets: How’s this for a natural rivalry--the Charleston (S.C.) Riverdogs vs. the Charleston (W.Va.) Alley Cats of the South Atlantic League.

Then there’s this one: From the Good Doctor in Inside Sports on what the NFL will need at the first meeting of the Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars: “Kitty litter.”

Looking back: On this day in 1923, Lefty O’Doul, pitching for the Boston Red Sox, gave up 13 runs in the sixth inning to the Cleveland Indians, who won, 27-3. In 1928, O’Doul returned to the majors as a great-hitting outfielder.

Who cares?The Dodgers’ Hideo Nomo is hitless in 33 major league at-bats.

Here’s a new one: Bernie Lilavois, a forward on the San Jose Grizzlies soccer team, missed a game the other night in Sacramento. He blamed it on the Unabomber, claiming the security at LAX prevented him from making his flight.

Have fastball, will travel: The Toronto Blue Jays’ David Cone, who won the Cy Young Award last year with the Kansas City Royals, is a realist. He knows that even though he’s the team’s No. 1 pitcher, he’s also trade bait.

“My bags are packed, just in case,” Cone told the Chicago Sun-Times. “As a professional, you’re always prepared for the uncertain. The only way to look at your name in trade rumors is positive. It means that someone wants you.”

In case you missed it: South Africa won the World Rugby Cup by defeating New Zealand, 15-12.

Trivia answer: Warren Spahn.

Quotebook: Dodger Executive Vice President Fred Claire, telling reporters that Mike Piazza had made the National League All-Star team: “You can write that on paper with carbon copies, because he’ll continue to be there year after year after year.”