It’s Certainly Open Enough to Play There

Which state has the most golfers per capita?

Why, North Dakota, of course.

According to the National Golf Foundation’s annual survey, 20.2% of North Dakota residents play the game, a figure that leads the nation. Second is Wisconsin, and third is that other great sunshine state, Minnesota.

California ranks 30th, just ahead of Florida and South Carolina.

Add North Dakota: According to Laurent Belsie of the Christian Science Monitor, there are several theories as to why golf is so popular in the upper Midwest: a high number of public courses, making the sport more accessible; a passion for participatory rather than spectator sports, and--strange as it may sound--the short season.

Said Bev Vanstrum, winner of four Minnesota senior golf titles: “In Minnesota, golf is almost the forbidden fruit.”

Trivia time: Who was the last player other than Michael Jordan to win the NBA scoring title?

Never mind: Mark Giangreco, sports anchor at Chicago’s WMAQ-TV, apologized on the air for suggesting that the officiating crew was responsible for the Phoenix Suns’ triple-overtime victory over the Bulls in Game 3 of the NBA finals.

After that game, Giangreco proclaimed: “I’ll give Phoenix credit, but you think the fix is in sometimes.”

Explaining his statement later, he said: “I was being sarcastic, and the NBA got all bent out of shape. Maybe my tongue wasn’t in my cheek firmly enough.”

Picky, picky: Noting the flashing sign at Hollywood Park during the Stanley Cup finals urging the Kings to “Bring the Cup Home,” Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe wrote: “Gee, I missed it the first time.”

Add Kings: Dupont on why he hopes Wayne Gretzky puts off retirement: “He can still throw a pass as if Picasso had control of the Telestrator. For me, that’s art.”

Midas touch: Three-hour waits for a table are common at Michael Jordan’s downtown Chicago restaurant, prompting Alan Goldstein of the Baltimore Sun to write: “Just about everything Michael Jordan touches, save for a golf club, turns to gold.”

Add Jordan: The restaurant, which opened five weeks ago, features a $350,000 state-of-the-art television screen and food that has pleased at least one discriminating palate.

“It’s real good,” Charles Barkley said.

Trivia answer: Atlanta’s Dominique Wilkins in the 1985-86 season.

Quotebook: Drayton McLane, owner of the Houston Astros, upon learning that the highest-paid college presidents make about $500,000: “I pay that for a backup shortstop.”