Extra Point

By Mike Fitzgerald

Wednesday, May 28, 1997

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Griffey will break
Maris’ mark, etc.

THE sports world according to Fitz:

I predict that Ken Griffey Jr. will break Roger Maris' home run record of 61 this season.

In fact, get this: Junior will sock 65 homers this season. The only problem, of course, would be if he gets seriously injured and misses more than a handful of games. Last year, a busted wrist ended his hopes of breaking the big mark.

Griffey currently leads the majors with 23 home runs and 61 RBIs. The pressure down the stretch will be enormous, but it still won't stop the best young player in the game today.

He grew up in a major-league baseball atmosphere, which will help.

No one else -- including Mark McGwire -- will top 55 this season.

CLASS ACT: In this baseball day of overpaid, cry-baby players, it was nice to see one of the best honored over the weekend.

Kirby Puckett, who grew up on the South Side of Chicago near the present Comiskey Park, had his number retired in Minnesota. Puckett's excellent 12-year career was cut short by a form of glaucoma. Yet, he never complained or whined about it and continues to be one of the best ambassadors that the game has ever had.

Some of the young players who can barely catch a fly ball or throw a strike when it matters should check some of the clips of Puckett, who always hustled on offense and defense -- and made the most of his abilities.

JORDAN GOOFED: Criticize Michael Jordan? Me? OK, here it goes. It was not very bright of him to play 46 holes of golf between games three and four of the current Miami series. Jordan's legs were obviously tired in his 0-for-11 first half, although he shot the Bulls back into the game in the fourth quarter.

Still, 18 holes would be OK. But 46 is a stretch during such an important time of the season for the aging champs.

This showed an overconfident side of Jordan, who should remember how the team almost folded in last season's finals against a surging Sonics team, which almost forced a seventh game after being down 3-0.

REFS IN MOURNING: Why did the referees let Alonzo Mourning stay in the game after he was banging Dennis Rodman's colorful head on the floor during the second-half scuffle of Monday's Bulls-Heat game? Why didn't they at least toss them both?

Probably because the Bulls would have won if Mourning is suddenly out of the game, since he is obviously more valuable than Rodman with the deeper Bulls.

I'm obviously biased as a Chicago fan, but as far as I'm concerned it will be good riddance to Miami and Pat Riley's brand of dirty basketball, which turned out to be the Knicks' undoing as well.

Either a Bulls-Jazz or Bulls-Rockets final will be a nice change of pace from the constant holding, pushing, trash-talking Eastern Conference games.

Unfortunately, the finals will feature the idiot Rodman, who has worn out his welcome with the Bulls and their fans -- and will definitely not be re-signed.

GOOD NEWS FOR WAC: I was glad to see Rick Majerus decide against taking the head coach's job with Golden State in the NBA.

Majerus, who has a history of medical problems, including heart bypass surgery, would have had a terrible time with the travel aspect of the NBA. Just ask Jerry Tarkanian, who didn't last long with the Spurs -- and wasn't that upset about being fired after a short stint in San Antonio.

Tark also had the line: "What do you say to a player who gets out of a stretch limo and is late for practice? And he's making millions more than you."

Anyway, it's nice for the league to keep Majerus, who is a straight-shooter, yet colorful and funny. And an outstanding coach.

ON THE REBOUND: Get-well wishes to Legends Sports Pub co-owner John Naylor, who badly busted up his leg recently.