Scorecard

NO DOUGH, YET
This week's cover subject, 42-year-old Nolan Ryan of the Texas Rangers (page 16), has been stirring up plenty of excitement in Little League baseball. As part of a promotion. American Express and Best Western International have promised to give Little League $1.25 million if Ryan, who has a record five career no-hitters, pitches his sixth during the 1989 season. Against the Brewers two weeks ago Ryan took a no-hitter into the eighth inning before Terry Francona singled off him to spoil it. On Sunday, Ryan came even closer. He held the Blue Jays hitless for 8/3 innings before giving up a triple to Nelson Liriano. Says Francona, himself a former Little Leaguer, "I can tell you that the way Ryan is pitching, Little League will get its money sometime this year."

A MIRACLE PLAY

Shades of Babe Ruth and Johnny Sylvester, the badly injured boy who recovered after the Bambino hit a home run for him:

In October, Brent Doyle, then 18, of Broomfield, Colo., crashed his motorcycle and suffered head injuries that put him in a coma. Doyle is an avid Miami Dolphin fan, so several friends, with the help of Denver TV broadcaster Mike Nolan, arranged to have Dolphin quarterback Dan Marino record a tape of encouragement for him. On the tape Marino says, "Come on. You can snap out of it. All of the Dolphins are behind you 100 percent."

Brent's father, Don, played the tape for his son every day for a month, at which point Brent gradually emerged from his coma. On April 14—dramatically improved—Brent came home and the next day celebrated his 19th birthday.

ONCE MORE, WITH FEELING

The coach left the field at halftime, his emotions drained but his hat still in place. Tom Landry was, by his own account, "overwhelmed" by the outpouring of affection he received on Hats Off to Tom Landry day last Saturday in Dallas. He was so worn out that he couldn't make it through one of the day's final events, a late-afternoon flag football game at Texas Stadium between teams of former Cowboys and former Redskins. Landry headed for home with his team leading the George Allen-coached Skins 6-0, thanks to a 25-yard touchdown pass from Roger Staubach to Tony Hill.

Dallas Mayor Annette Strauss had conceived the tribute to Landry, the Cowboys' coach for 29 years until his unceremonious dismissal by new team owner Jerry Jones on Feb. 25, and Governor Bill Clements proclaimed it a statewide day of honor. A morning parade through downtown Dallas, telecast live on two local stations, featured bands, floats and color guards from the four armed forces. Many of the 50,000 spectators waved Landry pennants or wore cardboard Landry masks; some people had arrived the night before to secure prime viewing spots. "I don't even believe all this is happening," said Landry.

But there was more, including a videotaped message from President Bush, a phone call from Bob Hope and telegrams by the score. One, from NFL referees, read, "Finally there will be some peace and quiet on the field. [No more of] all that ranting and raving and throwing that hat in the air." By the time the day ended, Landry had received countless plaques and trophies, a golf cart, lifetime passes on two airlines (Braniff announced plans to name one of its planes after him) and the keys to a flight simulator, on the off chance that, as an airplane buff—he was a World War II combat pilot—he might want to learn how to fly a 747. He was also appointed an admiral in the Texas Navy, and the possibility remains that Texas Stadium and/or the Dallas- Fort Worth airport will be named after him.

As for the flag football game, Staubach more or less took over as coach after Landry left and led the Cowboys to a 22-0 victory. "I think this is important because it was Coach Landry's last game in Texas Stadium." said former Cowboy safety Cliff Harris afterward. "We had to make sure we won it."