Adding another spring memory

GLENDALE, Ariz. _ Seen a lot of unusual things in spring training the past 17 years. *Michael Jordan trying to play baseball with the White Sox in 1994. He took a lot of grief from “legitimate” major-league players, including Pittsburgh's Andy Van Slyke. So it was a classic scene one day down in Sarasota, Fla., when a clubhouse kid brought a box of baseballs to Jordan for autographs. “Who are they for?” Jordan asked. “Andy Van Slyke.” “$%&# Andy Van Slyke,” Jordan said. *There was Robin Ventura destroying his ankle after sliding into home during a Grapefruit League game in 1997. I asked reserve infielder Chris Snopek about the likelihood of taking over for Ventura at third base. “That's not something I want to talk about,” Snopek said. “My thoughts and prayers are with Robin and his family.” Fair enough, I told Snopek, and walked away. After a few steps, Snopek said: “Dude...what are you hearing?” *There was Tony Phillips going AWOL, Frank Thomas going AWOL. *There was a shoving match better former Sox starter James Baldwin and outfielder Jeff Abbott. *There was Mark Buehrle gunning down a javelina in Tucson, and relievers Danny Wright and Matt Ginter bludgeoning a rattlesnake during a round of golf in Tucson. Hey, it made a nice belt. Lots of stories, lots of memories. Added another one to the list on Tuesday. It was a sleepy morning at the White Sox' training camp ... until Carlos Quentin checked in early. Typically terse, the Sox' new right fielder woke up the whole clubhouse while hugging every player in sight. Quentin seemed to be a changed man at SoxFest, and the jovial nature has carried over into spring training.