It’s Not a Lot of Hospitality, It’s a Course

Looking ahead to corporate hospitality for the 1999 Ryder Cup matches, BankBoston has already paid $500,000 to reserve the entire Charles River Country Club golf course the week of the international competition at The Country Club in nearby Brookline, Mass.

“We’re thrilled that we got in early,� said spokeswoman Diane Greer, who said the bank will have exclusive use of the club from Tuesday through Saturday of Ryder Cup week to offer tee times and other amenities for corporate guests.

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Trivia time: Who is the youngest gold medalist in Winter Olympic history?

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Buggy atmosphere: Columbus’ NHL expansion team logo features an “insect with an attitude� and it has been paying off in apparel sales in central Ohio. Since owners of the Blue Jackets released the logo of Stinger clad in a Civil War-era cap and jacket eight weeks ago, sales have been phenomenal, according to Rick Dudley, president of NHL Enterprises Inc.

“Hot cakes, man. This stuff was hot cakes,� one store buyer said.

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The true story: Washington Wizard forward Chris Webber, on Detroit Piston center Brian Williams’ labeling Keith Van Horn the Great White Hope: “I don’t know about the Great White Hope. I do know Brian Williams can’t [guard] Keith Van Horn.�

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Happy anniversary: Blair Field in Long Beach has been one of Southern California’s finest amateur baseball facilities for 40 years. Named for Frank Blair, sports editor of the Long Beach Press-Telegram from 1921 until his death in 1953, it was once the training site for the Chicago Cubs. Its 40th season will open today when Long Beach State meets an alumni team.

It opened April 22, 1958, when Long Beach Poly defeated Huntington Beach High, 3-1.

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Looking back: On this day in 1982, Ray Wersching kicked a Super Bowl record-tying four field goals to help the San Francisco 49ers win their first NFL championship with a 26-21 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.

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Was he right? The average salary for a major league ballplayer is $1.3 million. When the Oakland Athletics offered Rickey Henderson only $1 million, the veteran leadoff man rejected it and told them, “I’m more than an average player.�

He signed for $1.1 million, plus incentives.

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The defense rests: Former Los Angeles Ram safety Eddie Meador, on the difference between offensive and defensive players:

“I think almost every defensive back in the NFL could play offense, but not many offensive backs could play defense.�

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Long time waiting: When Ed Fiori won his third tournament, the 1982 Bob Hope Desert Classic, friends of the pudgy youngster from Downey figured he’d keep on winning. But Fiori did not win again until the 1996 Quad City Classic. The elapsed time between victories was 14 years 8 months 2 days.

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Trivia answer: Kim Yoon-Mi of South Korea, a member of the short-track speedskating team at Lillehammer in 1994. She was 13 years 83 days old.

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More trivia: Figure skater Tara Lipinski could become the youngest individual Winter Olympics gold medalist if she wins next month in Japan. She won’t be 16 until June 10. The youngest at the moment is Sonja Henie, who was 15 years 315 days when she won the skating medal in 1928.

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And finally: Fred Couples, who won the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic last week despite a painful back that he says makes him “walk like a 60-year-old,� is all for allowing Casey Martin, who has an incurable circulatory problem in his right leg, to use a cart while playing tournament golf.

“If he gets [to ride in a cart], I’m next in line,� Couples said.