Starting in Center Field Is . . . Michael Jordan; Bol Is at First

Bob Costas might be best known for his work on NBC’s pregame NFL show, or as the host of “Later,” a general-interest interview show. But there’s no doubt that baseball is his favorite sport. Seeing as this is his first year of doing pro basketball for NBC, the Dallas Mavericks Press asked him to combine two of his interests and come up with an NBA all-star team . . . for baseball.

Costas’ lineup, with a few of his comments:

First base: Manute Bol, 76ers--Makes “Stretch” McCovey look small. Backup: Patrick Ewing, Knicks.

Second base: John Stockton, Jazz. Backup: Kevin Johnson, Suns.

Shortstop: Isiah Thomas, Pistons. Backup: Alvin Robertson, Bucks.

Third base: Tom Chambers, Suns. Backup: Karl Malone, Jazz.

Left field: Muggsy Bogues, Hornets--The little guy can cover a lot of ground. Besides, he’d bat leadoff and draw a ton of walks. Backup: Spud Webb, Hawks.

Center field: Michael Jordan, Bulls--He could actually play anywhere. Backup: Probably not needed, but James Worthy, Lakers, just in case.

Right field: Dennis Scott, Magic--Anyone who leads the league in three-point attempts probably has the best arm. Backup: Reggie Miller, Pacers.

Catcher: Charles Barkley, 76ers--Imagine Charles blocking the plate. Backup: Kevin Duckworth, Trail Blazers.

Designated Hitter: Ricky Pierce, SuperSonics. Backup: Vinnie Johnson, Pistons.

Pitcher: Alex English, Mavericks; Bernard King, Bullets--Like the pitcher who had a great fastball, got hurt, and came up with another pitch to save his career; Magic Johnson, Lakers--Like Nolan Ryan, there would be a chance of a no-hitter every time he got the ball; Larry Bird, Celtics--Steady greatness.

Relief pitcher: Dennis Rodman, Pistons--The stopper, plain and simple. Backup: Chris Mullin, Warriors.

Add Costas: “This is my first year broadcasting pro basketball since 1980. In 1975 and ‘76, I was the radio voice of the late, lamented Spirits of St. Louis of the ABA, a team which was to basketball what David Letterman would be to ‘Hamlet.’ We actually had some interesting players: Marvin Barnes, Fly Williams, Moses Malone, Maurice Lucas. The league folded and so did the Spirits. Some of them wound up in the NBA, some of them went back to the playground, some of them went to jail.

“Later, in 1980, I spent a season as the television voice of the Chicago Bulls. These were the pre-Michael Bulls who lost. They lost 17 of the 20 games I called that year.

“So, although many people think of me as a baseball or football guy, as you can see, my basketball credentials are quite impressive.”

Trivia time: Redskins is a team name most associated with Washington and the NFL, but there was an NBA franchise in the 1949-50 season with the same moniker. Where was it located?

A Whole Lotto Fun: When the jackpot for last week’s California lottery broke the $100-million barrier, even Jose Canseco, who signed a $23.5 million deal with the Oakland Athletics in 1990, got interested. For a price.

“I already hit the lottery, about a year ago,” Canseco told the San Francisco Chronicle. “If I did win $100 million, I would play for nothing. But then they would have to let me pitch. I would pitch every fourth day and play a position the other days. It would be something easy, like first base or DH.”

Start Spreading the News: A survey of baseball’s opening day rosters shows that more major league players began in the New York Mets’ organization than any other system.

Of the 706 players in the majors, including those on the disabled list, 39 were originally property of the Mets. Eight remain on their current roster.

Trivia answer: Sheboygan, Wis.

Quotebook: Jack Ramsay, when it was suggested while he was coaching Buffalo in 1972 that the Braves might be on the same timetable as the Cleveland Cavaliers, who had a 15-67 record two years earlier: “We’ll jump off that bridge when we come to it.”