– Bradley 1: Bradley AD Ron Ferguson`s announcement that the school isn`t joining the Midwestern Collegiate Conference may create a domino effect. For one thing, Ferguson said Creighton and Drake, two other Missouri Valley Conference members considering a move to the MCC, have an informal agreement to move in harmony toward any new conference. For another, sources say La Salle and Duquesne, two other potential MCC members, wanted Bradley to join before they would become members. The final call to turn down the MCC was Bradley President Martin Abegg`s. School sources say Abegg`s retiring soon and didn`t want any bad moves-if joining the MCC become one-to be part of his legacy.
– Bradley 2: New Bradley coach Jim Molinari, plus Ferguson and other university officials and followers, greeted alumni Monday in Chicago. Among the guests were his former employers, De Paul AD Bill Bradshaw and Ray Meyer. Said Jim: ”One of my jobs at De Paul was taking Coach Ray`s wife, Marge, shopping. Now you guys might laugh at that, but I`m a head coach.” In fact, Molinari displayed plenty of wit:
– ”We led the nation in earrings last year.”
– ”We`re picked for 10th (in the 10-member Valley) in the preseason polls. That`s much too high.”
– ”(Freshman) David Winslow`s nickname is `Chainsaw.` I`m not sure why. I`m afraid to ask him.”
– ”This is a rough group. We had a team meeting a while back. I watched `em leave and then I noticed my watch was missing.”
– Bowling `em over: The celebrities get spotted a strike in the third, sixth and ninth frames, but that didn`t diminish Cliff Levingston`s excitement at topping bowling pro Jimmy Johnson 211-177 in the Brunswick World Open pro-am in Lake Zurich. In the next lane, former Cub Glenn Beckert turned in a 226 after opening with three straight strikes. In fact, this World Open event has been mean to pro bowlers. Last year, Neal Anderson came straight to the event from a Bears game and beat Hall of Famer Mark Roth by two pins. You didn`t hear about it, though. Anderson had left the Bears game earlier in the day in Soldier Field with a sore leg-and, out of fear of coach Mike Ditka learning he was bowling, got TV tape stifled. Apparently Roth didn`t forget. He drilled Levingston 226-191 when they met at this week`s pro-am.
– More Cliff: Levingston isn`t called ”Good News” for nothing. The Bulls`
reserve has a section of 25 seats he gives to worthy causes. Next up is a group of students from Marshall High School, where he`s also donated shoes to the athletic department. Others who`ll be in his ”Good News Heaven” section will be kids from Larsen Middle School, Demicco Youth Services and a YMCA. Said Cliff: ”It makes me feel good when I can look up to my section.”
– Success stories: Northwestern will have two greats at Thursday`s Big 10 Women`s Tipoff Luncheon at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. Lisa Ishikawa-Sliwa, whose softball pitching records-two perfect games, 14 no-hitters, 97-30 record, 0.47 career ERA-may stand forever, will be there as a candidate for Big 10 Women`s Athlete of the Decade. Anucha Browne, NU`s all-time career scorer (2,307) and rebounder (951), will be there as a member of the league`s all-decade basketball team. Ishikawa-Sliwa and Browne have more in common than sports and school. Both work for IBM. Lisa`s in this area, Anucha`s in New York.
– He`s No. 1: Craig Hodges, only Chicagoland native on the Bulls` championship roster, will be honored Sunday at his old grammar school in Chicago Heights. Plans calls for the gym floor at Dr. Charles Gavin School to be redone with the uniform number 14-Hodges` number-painted on the picture of the school`s Jaguar mascot.
– Scribbling: With the Bears playing Monday night, inactive players were tapped for Tuesday luncheons. Jim Covert, injured, is at the Midland Hotel. Dan Hampton, retired, is at America`s Bar. . . . Ex-Bear great Walter Payton may be more active now than when he played. He popped up twice at China Club over the weekend, once to introduce Woody Harrelson and his band. . . . The Mid-Continent Conference has moved its headquarters from Chicago`s Near West Side to Naperville, where offices are in the One Energy Center complex just off I-88. . . . Jim Harbaugh didn`t completely turn his attention to Minnesota after the Bears` final practice at Halas Hall. He remained behind teammates to spend an hour chatting with 20 physically and mentally disabled kids and 20 Lake Forest College reps of Best Buddies, an organization that links handicapped youth with volunteers. . . . Former Sting announcers Howard Balson and Kenny Stern, who broadcast more than 350 games on a variety of TV and radio outlets, will become a team for the first time in nearly five years to do a five-game Chicago Power indoor soccer package on SportsChannel. The first game is Thursday`s contest at Milwaukee. . . . Chicagoan Bob Sullivan, director of basketball camps for Doug Collins in Chicago and Tim Hardaway in El Paso, is scouting this season for the Utah Jazz.
