He Still Wants Acceptance as One of the Guys

George Steinbrenner has inadvertently found another way to be controversial.

He excluded women from his guest list that watched Friday night’s Mike Tyson-Razor Ruddock fight on pay-per-view television in Tampa, Fla.

“Gosh, I always liked ladies. . . . I always liked to take the ladies to dances, movies, orchestra, opera, ballet, homecoming games and the World Series,” said the New York Yankees’ banished owner. “The wrestling matches and boxing, I prefer to watch with the guys. So what’s the big deal?”

The big deal to Hillsborough County Commissioner Jan Platt is that other local officials were among the 120 invitees, but she and Mayor Sandy Freedman were excluded.

Trivia time: Name the only heavyweight to win the championship on a foul.

Oops: Make that seven Heisman Trophy winners who have played for the Rams. Morning Briefing overlooked Ohio State’s Les Horvath in Friday’s trivia time.

Jose’s burden: Jose Canseco of the Oakland Athletics says he doesn’t know why his own fans boo him.

Alan Greenberg of the Hartford Courant supplies the reason: “If his own fans boo him, it’s probably because they see him as something bigger than one of theirs. Jose isn’t really theirs. He’s MTV’s and People magazine’s. He’s public property, more a celebrity than a ballplayer who bleeds A’s green and gold.

“Everywhere in America, people mob him as if he’s some sort of rock star. Or maybe a World Wrestling Federation villain. They boo, shout things at him, things they wouldn’t think of shouting at a normal person.”

Tales from the crypt: Fran Blinebury of the Houston Chronicle, on the plight of the Lakers during the NBA finals against the Chicago Bulls:

“If you look closely, you can see the wrinkles spreading out on the faces of the Laker Girls. If you listen, you can hear the engines in the limousines that drop off the beautiful people who occupy the $475 courtside seats starting to cough and sputter.

“There is no longer the smell of victory in the air. That’s the aroma of formaldehyde that permeates the Forum.”

Eerie, isn’t it?

Added excitement: Soccer ranks 25th in fan interest among Americans, according to a Sports Illustrated poll, prompting the Washington Post’s Tony Kornheiser to write:

“So if the 1994 World Cup is hoping for some box office, they’d better package it with a U2 concert. Or free beer. Or amnesty.”

Willing and Abel: Abel Kiviat, 99, is reportedly America’s oldest living Olympian. A silver medalist in the 1,500 meters at the 1912 Games, Kiviat told the New York Times that he’s looking for a female companion.

“She doesn’t have to have teeth,” he said. “She just has to have a driver’s license.”

The long view: Carl Lewis hasn’t lost in long jump competition since 1981, a string of 65 victories. What’s his secret?

“I have a better understanding of what I’m doing on the runway, in the air and off the board than the opposition,” said Lewis, who will turn 30 Monday. Who will argue?

Trivia answer: Max Schmeling won on a foul from Jack Sharkey in the fourth round on June 12, 1930.

Quotebook: Michael Jordan, on the dumbest question he has been asked: “A radio guy asked me how long my tongue is.”