Scorecard

UNDER TWO FLAGS

Almost obscured in the Olympic flap about South Africa in 1968 was the fact that Rhodesia was not invited to the Mexico City Games. Rhodesia is a white-run country in the heart of the Dark Continent but, unlike South Africa, it does not have segregated sports. Even so, its rebellion against Britain and its declaration of independence had racist overtones that aroused antagonism.

Now, in a ploy that Solomon would have admired, it is Olympic-bound again. Since independent Rhodesia is still not recognized by most other governments, the International Olympic Committee suggested the Rhodesians go back to using the same Union Jack flag and God Save the Queen anthem that they had at Tokyo in 1964. This proposal was approved by an almost unanimous vote of delegates from 80 national Olympic committees. The Rhodesian delegates said it was fine with them. R. W. Grant-Stuart, president of the Rhodesian Olympic Committee, and Ossie Plaskett, secretary-general, reportedly told Avery Brundage: "We are sportsmen and are not interested in politics. We are willing to compete under any flag."

LOS IRLANDESES COMBATIENTES

Notre Dame will play the National University of Mexico in Mexico City on Saturday, Oct. 23. No, not the Notre Dame, or at least not Ara Parseghian's varsity, which meets Southern California that afternoon in South Bend. The Irish in Mexico City will be the Notre Dame freshmen—but don't let that mislead you into thinking that the game south of the border will be a casual little affair played behind a bodega somewhere. The freshmen will appear before a far larger crowd than the Notre Dame varsity will; officials in Mexico City expect at least 80,000 spectators to come out to huge Aztec Stadium, and there could be as many as 100,000. Back in South Bend the varsity will draw a measly little capacity crowd of 59,075.

The University of Mexico has five or six separate teams, from which an all-star squad will be selected for the big game. Ticket prices will be on a somewhat more modest scale than big-time college football is accustomed to. In South Bend, people will pay $7 and $8 for their seats. In Mexico City, the aficionados will spring for either four or five pesos, about 30� to 40�, so gate receipts won't be a tenth the size of the take in South Bend. Even so, a crowd of 80,000—that's a lot of ol�s.

ALL BROWN

Ever hear of a pitcher making an unassisted double play? On a ground ball? At second base? Stand back now. It happened in an American Association game between the Denver Bears and the Wichita Aeros. One out, man on second. Pitcher Jackie Brown of Denver fielded a hot ground ball. The man on second moved a little too far toward third before stopping, and Brown, instead of throwing to first base for a routine out, sprinted toward the runner, who suddenly found himself trapped off base. Brown ran him back toward second and faked a throw to that base. The runner fell for the fake, turned again toward third and Brown tagged him out. Meanwhile, the batter, seeing the rundown, rounded first and tried to make it into second. Brown spotted him, raced to the bag and tagged him out, too.

Why he bothers having infielders around, no one knows.

A LITTLE FUN