The Tip-off

By Kevin Rothbauer

David Cone has had his ups and downs over a 13-year career, but he seems to belong in New York. Last year, he was almost a Cy Young Award winner, but he had to settle for a World Series ring. Last Monday, he pitched the Yankees’ second perfect game (no runs, no hits, no errors) in as many seasons. Oddly enough, the perfect game came on a night when the Yanks were honouring hall of fame catcher Yogi Berra, who caught the Yankees’ Þrst ever perfect game (in 1956), the only perfect game in World Series history. Both Berra and Don Larsen (who pitched that Þrst perfect game) were in attendance.

Many argure that with the opening of Seattle’s new SafeCo stadium, Ken Griffey Jr. has no chance to break Hank Aaron’s career home run record. SafeCo isn’t as home run-friendly as the Mariners’ last home, the Kingdome. Aaron himself thinks that Griffey can do it. Griffey probably has about 10 years left in the majors, during which he’ll have to average slightly more than 30 homers a year.

Much closer to home, three basketball players have announced their intentions to play for the Dinos next season. The most exciting addition is John Riad, who averaged 24 points, 5.3 assists, 5.5 rebounds, 3.6 steals per game, and won the city championship with the William Aberhart Trojans. Riad chose the University of Calgary because he sees “the opportunity to contribute right away.” That’s an understatement. The Dinos will have an immediate use for someone with those kind of numbers, assuming he makes a smooth transition from the high school game. The Dinos also added height and experience with 6’4″ Jeff Loomis, a transfer from the Grant MacEwan College Griffins and 6’5″ Medicine Hat College Rattlers transfer Andrew Stordeur.