Offer to MJ Made Cents to A's

Michael Jordan was guaranteed a spot on a major league roster onOpening Day.

In Oakland.

Seems when the White Sox were trying to decide whether to eveninvite the AWOL two guard to spring training, A's general managerSandy Alderson contacted Jordan's people and offered him a spot asthe 25th man on Tony La Russa's roster. True fact.

"The extra revenue he would've generated for us would haveallowed us to make several other significant improvements to theballclub," Alderson told the Boston Globe.

Thing is, Jordan wouldn't even be the best NBA guard as abaseball player. Phoenix's Kevin Johnson would.

The All-Star point guard was signed as a shortstop by Oaklandand even played two minor league games before the University ofCalifornia decided he needed to go to summer school.

"He would've been an outstanding shortstop," Alderson said.

And he still might be. Johnson showed up at Oakland's springtraining camp recently and hit several balls over the fence.

JUST ASKING: If Jordan buys a luxury bus for his tour of theSouthern League, where do you suppose they'll put the blackjacktable?

TONY AWARD: A note about the Blackhawks' game with Calgarytonight at the Stadium: Newcomer Tony Amonte probably will end upskating against the man he was almost traded for, Joel Otto.

According to a co-conspirator of this column, the Flamesseriously considered dealing their hulking center for the speedyAmonte, but backed off because he's too valuable as a checker andfaceoff man.

That's when the Hawks were able to pawn off Brian Noonan andStephane Matteau to the N.Y. Rangers to get Amonte.

THE CREDIT BUREAU: Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and coach JimmyJohnson fought about who gets the credit. But just remember thatwith them, quarterback Troy Aikman, receiver Michael Irvin and thatdefense, nothing good happened until tailback Emmitt Smith ended hisholdout.

BURY SWITZER: The good thing about Barry Switzer coaching theCowboys is that we'll see the first Super Bowl champion placed onprobation.

HE'S NUTS: Every time you get all riled up at the Big Wonks ofyour local sports teams, just think about how lucky you are that noneof them is Donald Sterling, the space-cadet L.A. Clippers owner.

Recently, he called his coaches together and told them to listento a peanut vendor at the Sports Arena who, apparently, had his ownideas on who should play for the Clippers. True fact.

"Even the peanut guy says you aren't doing it right," Sterlingreportedly told coach Bob Weiss and friends, "and he has been herefor a long time and he has seen it all."

And you wondered why Danny Manning wanted out.

MAGIC'S ACT: A former NBA coach thought it was great for NBAbasketball that Magic Johnson was coaching the Lakers. That, atleast, is what he says on the record.

"Off the record," he said, "I think it's a pile of crap."

YOUR HONOR: From Pittsburgh columnist Bob Smizik on KevinMcReynolds: "You've heard of guys being called clubhouse lawyers?He's an entire bar association."