The “fix” is in with the White Sox. If he continues to show anything at all in Sarasota, Michael Jordan makes the club and will be on hand for the April 8 home opener with Boston. That’s the word circulating among Sox partners. They’re being told General Manager Ron Schueler has done a detailed study of every club’s 25th man-and guess what? He rarely makes a significant contribution, struggles to hit .200 and, most important, gives no one a reason to buy a ticket. Just for good measure, Schueler likes MJ’s quickness out of the box and figures he can be made into an adequate fielder.
P.S.: Las Vegas favors Jordan’s chances more and more. The odds on Sir Michael making the club have dropped significantly in the last week.
Ready Freddie: Former Purdue football coach Fred Akers is a candidate for the North Texas State job. The position became vacant a few weeks ago when Dennis Parker was relieved of duties by administrators who didn’t see eye-to-eye with his approach. The school was supposed to be in spring training at this point, but everything’s “in limbo” according to a school source. The assistant coaches haven’t been given the go-ahead for practices because they may not be retained by the new man. This could be a job that breathes new life into the 53-year-old Akers’ sagging fortunes. A stop at North Texas definitely pumped new life into the career of Iowa’s Hayden Fry, who took over the Mean Green Eagles’ program after he was fired by Southern Methodist.
More employment news: Joe Gibbs’ rejection of the Jacksonville job ends up being bad news for former NFL great Charley Taylor, who has just been let go by the Redskins after 30 years in the organization. Taylor was a scout and an assistant coach with Gibbs, who presumably would’ve hired him in Florida. Charley remained in Washington last year on Richie Petitbon’s staff, but there’s no place for him on new coach Norv Turner’s staff. “I have no complaints,” said the Pro Football Hall of Famer. . . . Former Bear running back Willie McClendon is out after five seasons as an assistant coach at Georgia. He’s in the “private sector” pursuing business opportunities. Among Bulldog products while he was on staff: Bears’ Tim Worley.
Spurred on: Here’s a tip for bettors: Whenever the Magic plays the Spurs, like they did Sunday, count on David Robinson to outplay Shaquille O’Neal, like he did Sunday. He always does. You can look it up. Here’s why. When O’Neal entered the draft two years ago, there was much talk in San Antonio that the Spurs should trade Robinson, perceived by some as an underachiever, for the No. 1 pick to get O’Neal, a San Antonio prep star. One newspaper ran a poll to that effect. Subsequently David, stung by the prospect, never has lacked inspiration against Shaq.
Gang that shoots straight: All those Bulls followers who said Phil Jackson’s men won’t go anywhere unless they improve their free-throw shooting should feel real bright these days. Against Cleveland, Chicago had its best day of the season at the line and still lost a fifth straight. Even Scottie (Why Does The Rim Keep Moving When I’m Shooting A Free Throw) Pippen was 9 for 10.
Turn in your badge: President Bill Clinton, a Cowboys fan, has done the unpardonable. He has appointed a former Redskin to a plum job. Sid Williams, a Washington linebacker in the 1960s, is the new U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas. Williams lives in southern California, where his wife is heavily involved in politics.
Ah, heck: Maybe the Bears didn’t know it, but their new tackle, Andy Heck, might have been more anxious to come to Chicago than they realized. Heck’s wife, Jennifer, grew up in Winnetka. Her grandfather is Don McNeill of the old “Breakfast Club” radio show that originated here. Furthermore, Andy’s in-laws have been Bears season ticket-holders for years. Now that he knows this, maybe Mike McCaskey will want to renegotiate that $2.7 million deal.
Horsing around: The Illinois Agriculture Department is adding new meaning to the phrase “straight from the horse’s mouth.” As the promoter for horse breeding and racing in the state, it has organized a new speaker’s bureau that will provide-free-experts in the industry to address groups. First up is Patricia Whitworth, secretary-treasurer of the Illinois Thoroughbred Breeders & Owners Foundation.
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Starting over: John McDougal should have a few interesting thoughts going through his head when he takes his Rockford Lutheran basketball team to Chick Evans Field House on the Northern Illinois campus Tuesday for a Class A supersectional game. When he was at Aurora West, McDougal made a name for himself by winning Class AA supersectionals in the building. Then he coached there regularly as NIU’s head man. He came out of retirement two years ago to take the job at Lutheran, where he’s 48-12. This will be his first visit as a head coach to the facility since he was last at NIU in 1986.
Where are they now? Goaltender Manon Rheaume, first woman to play in a pro hockey game, is playing infrequently with the Knoxville Cherokees of the East Coast League. She will be in the nets next month for Canada in the world championships in Lake Placid, N.Y.