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Show (spQrts prQbe) Former major league pitcher pitch-er Steve Stone is perhaps best known for winning the Cy Young Award in 1980 when he posted a 25-7 record for the Baltimore Orioles. But since winning the award, Stone's pitching career has declined. An old injury, which had sidelined the hurler in 1976, flared up again last year. Stone finally decided to retire earlier this year when he realized he was fighting a losing battle. But Stone wasn't bitter. "When you are on a ship, you know where the life boats are," he says. "I faced mortality once in 1976 when I had a rotator cuff injury, so it was easier to face again. I'm not one to hang my head. I gave myself four days to feel miserable and realized why it happened. In Germany, they had a book burning. Well, I had a glove burning. "I didn't retire to come back like Ali. Oh, I might have a catch with a neighbor neigh-bor now. and then, especially espe-cially if she's pretty. But that part of my life has closed," says the 35-year-old Stone. "Besides, five minutes after my farewell press conference, ABC called me and asked me to audition." Stone is now employed as an analyst for ABC's summer baseball coverage. The former major leaguer has had to adjust to a different dif-ferent environment. "For the first time in my life, I've got to be a fan. As ' a player I was always immersed in the game itself . and didn't read up on the National League stats. My father used to get on me for not subscribing to the Sporting News. "Well, now I have two leagues to worry about, so I read some more now and make some notes on legal . sheets about the players. My homework is done before the game." Stone intends to expand his broadcasting duties ' through a syndicated TV show, "Just Another x Sports Show,' which he's putting together during the next few weeks. |