Columnist Ron Kantowski: Nelson pulls off upset in charisma competition

Tuesday, April 25, 2000 | 10:38 a.m.

Ron Kantowski's notes column appears Tuesday. Reach him at ron@lasvegassun.com or 259-4088.

Newly crowned Las Vegas Senior Classic golf champion Larry Nelson readily admits that when it comes to charisma, put him down for a six.

But he may be on his way to red numbers in that department based on some soundbite material he gave to the Birmingham (Ala.) Post.

"I always wanted to be charismatic," said the 51-year-old Nelson, who won the PGA Championship twice and the U.S. Open once during his golfing prime. "Arnold Palmer is charismatic. Chi Chi (Rodriguez) is fun. Tiger (Woods) is exciting. Me? I'm always described as 'balding'. "

Nelson's sense of humor is certainly more dry than Hale Irwin's golf ball following the latter's misadventure on the par-5 16th on Sunday.

"I'm more introverted -- but that makes me popular in Japan, where 80 percent of the population is introverted," Nelson cracked. "They like that."

Nelson, a Vietnam vet who did not pick up a golf club until he was in his early 20s, added that if he can't be charismatic, he'd settle for "mysterious."

"Women like that," he said. "You know how I knew I was ready for the Senior Tour? I knew I was ready when the mothers of some of the guys I was playing with started looking pretty good to me. That's how I knew it was time."

* GIVE A GIRL A BREAK: Eliseo Salazar (a k a Greasy Old Salad Bar) had a lot of nerve blasting 19-year-old rookie driver Sarah Fisher after she triggered an accident eliminating both drivers from contention at Saturday's Vegas 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Fisher, who was running second, lost control of her car in turn 4 as the hard-charging Salazar was setting her up for a pass. Fisher's car snapped into a hard spin and collected Salazar, who tried to squeeze between Fisher's car and the wall.

In public address system and ABC-TV interviews, the 44-year-old Salazar said Fisher, who was making just her third start in an Indy Racing car, belonged in the Powder Puff Derby.

"This is serious stuff. This is not for her," Salazar steamed.

Two-time Indy 500 winner Arie Luyendyk might have said the same thing about Salazar during the 1996 Indy 500, when Salazar ran into the side of Luyendyk's car on the warm-up lane after a pit stop, knocking the popular Dutchman from the race.

But Luyendyk had too much class to point fingers.

* RE-TIRED: The tethering system that was implemented to keep tires and wheel assemblies from flying off wrecked race cars following the deaths of three spectators at Charlotte last year failed big-time during Donnie Beechler's crash at LVMS on Saturday.

A tire flew from Beechler's car upon impact with the wall. But the new retaining fence that was extended out over the track following the Charlotte tragedy deflected it back onto the racing surface.

Had the fence not done its job, the Indy Racing League had another backup system in place. There were so few fans in the stands that even had Beechler's tire cleared the fence it wouldn't have put anybody in jeopardy.

But at next month's Indy 500, it might be a different story.

* REVOLTING DEVELOPMENT: Don't believe all you read about Rolland Todd's reason for resigning as coach of the International Basketball League's Silver Bandits with just a handful of games remaining in the regular season.

Citing high blood pressure, the 65-year-old Todd unexpectedly stepped down on April 10. But several sources have told the Sun that some of Todd's players may have been the reason his BP went off the charts.

According to the buzz, Bandits scoring ace J.R. Henderson led a mini-revolt within the team that hastened Todd's departure.

* MOB MENTALITY: If Chico's Bail Bonds were interested in re-upping its sponsorship of a baseball/softball team that truly deserved it, it should check out a South Philadelphia softball team comprised of mobsters.

As his lineup of "mob all-stars" took the field last week, manager Anthony Borgesi told his players to win one "for the incarcerated guys."

Three weeks ago, the team was virtually ... er, rubbed out, by a 37-count racketeering indictment that included charges of three murders, two attempted murders, extortion, gambling, drug trafficking and an interstate theft ring.

Gone were star pitcher Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino, the reputed acting mob boss now serving time in federal prison; Borgesi's brother, George, a third baseman and reputed acting consigliere; and Steve Mazzone, a reputed acting underboss.

Also not at the game were mob associates Anthony Accardo, who the feds call a "designated hitter" in extortion shakedowns, and Steven "Snitch" Frangipanni, accused of stealing a lot more than bases.

As Kitty Caparella of the Philadelphia Daily News remarked in her story about the team's problems, if convicted all those guys will be playing a lot of away games.

* AROUND THE HORN: If the Silver Bandits are looking for a new way to promote the team, perhaps they should consider saddling up and playing on horseback. The finals of Sunday's World Cup equestrian event at the Thomas & Center drew more than 10,000 spectators, or about 10 times more than the Bandits have been averaging. ... Note to whomever was responsible for playing the Smash Mouth CD over the public address system before the rock band went on stage following Saturday's Vegas 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway: That's not the way to promote a concert. There was no reason to hang around for the concert after hearing a studio-quality version of it over the loudspeakers. ... Note to the guy who during the pre-race festivities thanked LVMS track owner Bruton Smith for building the track. Smith only put the finishing touches on what speedway founder Richie Clyn e started.