Strange Place for a Canadian Powerhouse

“The CFL is alive and well, and the NFL can go to hell.”

That’s the message on a button worn by Fred Anderson, owner of the Sacramento Gold Miners, who are a Canadian Football League team.

The Gold Miners begin their season in Ottawa tonight--and they have, perhaps, an advantage over other CFL teams.

“A fear voiced by many Canadian coaches is that Sacramento is going to be a CFL powerhouse because it is not burdened by keeping 20 Canadians on the 37-player roster,” writes Gary Swan of the San Francisco Chronicle.

“Sacramento is not just the first U.S. team in the CFL, it is the first team without Canadian players. Not a one. U.S. law says aliens cannot take jobs in this country if qualified Americans are available.”

Trivia time: Who is the major league record-holder for RBIs in a season?

Chief survives: Chief Wahoo will remain the Cleveland Indians’ logo when the team moves to a new stadium in 1994, despite pressure from American Indian groups to discontinue its use.

The Indians have used various forms of the logo since 1915, and the current version since 1952.

“They have been a loser now for 40 years since the ‘Wahoo’ sign has been used,” Indian activist and actor Russell Means said. “Can’t they take a hint? The chief is a loser.”

Rhyming Celtic: Iowa center Acie Earl on being the first draft choice of the Boston Celtics: “I plan on playing, so I hope they plan on paying.”

Proper English? Johnette Howard of the Washington Post reflecting on the recent Wimbledon tournament:

“I don’t know why this always happens, but if you take a bunch of Americans, drop them down at a place such as Wimbledon, or the British Open for a few weeks, it’s guaranteed that before the event is through, someone will be saying, ‘Ey mate, ‘ot outside, idn’t it?”

Packaging: As Angel manager in 1967, Bill Rigney assigned Jay Johnstone and Jim Piersall as roommates.

“It was an easy decision,” Rigney said. “I didn’t want to screw up two rooms.”

Ouch! Jack Craig of the Boston Globe on John McEnroe as a television analyst at Wimbledon: “There is no substitute for intelligence, which sets McEnroe far apart from Jimmy Connors when he tries tennis analysis on television.”

Trivia answer: Hack Wilson of the Chicago Cubs, with 190 in 1930.

Quotebook: John Eisenberg of the Baltimore Sun: “If the American League West was a fish, it would be wrapped in newspaper.”