Bentley Is Driving Tyson to Despair

Does heavyweight champion Mike Tyson drive like Leon Spinks? According to the New York Police Dept., two Port Authority officers left their posts outside the Holland Tunnel in Lower Manhattan to investigate an automobile accident.

When they got to the scene they found a dejected Tyson looking over a dent in his sleek luxury car. He had just sideswiped a parked car after losing control of the convertible.

Tyson reportedly told the police to keep the convertible because, “I’ve had nothing but bad luck and accidents with this car.”

The car is a $180,000 Bentley.

Former umpire Ron Luciano says umpire Pam Postema doesn’t have the necessary skills--or the psychological makeup--to work in the major leagues.

Hiring Postema, who had a spring training tryout with the National League but wasn’t hired, would “set baseball back 30 years,” Luciano said while promoting his new book.

“The consensus is she needs work on the bases,” Luciano said. “She is adequate behind the plate. I mean, I was adequate and I stunk.

“Pam is not the best person for the job. In order to be a good umpire, you have to make the players believe in you, whether you’re right or wrong.”

Trivia time: In 1935, who beat San Francisco’s Joe DiMaggio on the last day of the season to win Pacific Coast League batting title? (Answer below.)

Pittsburgh Pirate outfielder Barry Bonds on teammate Bobby Bonilla: “He has all the talent in the world. He can hit for average, has power from both sides of the plate. . . . The man can hit .340, .350 in this league. I really believe it.”

Jerry Reuss, thought to be through when he was released by the Angels last June, recently joined two exclusive pitching clubs.

Reuss, now with the Chicago White Sox, won his 200th game last week. He became the 86th pitcher to reach that mark, joining Milt Pappas, who won 209 games in a 17-year career, as the only pitchers to win 200 without having a 20-win season.

The Name Game: Prior to the start of a recent N.Y. Mets-Houston Astros game, a graphic appeared on the Mets’ telecast with the name of the Astro starting pitcher as “Danny Darling” instead of Danny Darwin. Darwin proceeded to pitch a complete game and beat the Mets. Pitcher Ron Darling was on the New York bench and umpire Gary Darling was at first base.

Trivia answer: Oscar Eckhardt of the Bay Area’s Mission team. Eckhardt hit .399, DiMaggio .398. Note: The following season Eckhardt hit .182 in 16 games with the Brooklyn Dodgers and was sent back to the minors. DiMaggio, as a rookie with the New York Yankees, hit .323, including 29 home runs.

Quotebook

Former Cincinnati Reds pitcher and broadcaster Joe Nuxhall comparing himself to Mario Soto after Soto, who is coming back this season from shoulder problems, won his first game in 11 months: “I never took 11 months between wins. I took 11 months between outs.”