Skinny Trojan Grew Up to Be Something Big

Randy Johnson finally got his revenge.

OK, so it took 14 years. And it was only an exhibition game.

But Johnson was still pleased after making his debut for the Arizona Diamondbacks, pitching two perfect innings Wednesday against the University of Arizona.

“I’m getting back at U of A after all those beatings I used to take at USC,” Johnson said.

The last time Johnson faced the Arizona Wildcats, he walked six and was shelled for six runs and 13 hits in a 7-3 loss.

That was 1985. He wasn’t the dominating force then that he is today, simply an extremely tall, extremely wild junior at USC.

Wednesday, Johnson struck out four of the six batters he faced.

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Tower of power: Arizona’s Keoni DeRenne, facing Johnson, bounced out to short. But rather than showing frustration, DeRenne expressed only wonderment after facing the Big Unit.

Because from where De Renne was standing, “big” was the operative word to describe the 6-foot-10 left-hander.

“He was almost like the Eiffel Tower because I’m only 5 feet 7,” DeRenne said. “He’s immense. It was just awesome, man. Hopefully they got it on videotape because I’d like to show it to my kids someday.”

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Trivia time: In the 1981-82 Laker season, which began with Mitch Kupchak as the power forward and ended with Kurt Rambis in that position, who led the club in rebounding?

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Thoughtful comment: From the Sporting News’ Caught On The Fly: “Hey-yo, Rambo, thanks for takin’ over Dull Harris’ spot as host-o-L.A.’s top-rated (they got no) game show: Dysfunctional Family Feud. Shaq-n-Kobes’ve gone to Knuckle City. Kobes-n-Foxy’re feudin’. Harp’s players-only meeting came at a time when, hey, there weren’t any. How bad is/was it with the Flakers, Coach? That preseason offer from the Clips might end up lookin’ good.”

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Trivia answer: Magic Johnson, who averaged 9.6 rebounds.

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And finally: The English press has a new public enemy No. 1--Argentine soccer player Diego Simeone.

Simeone was quoted as admitting he’d conned the referee after being kicked by England’s David Beckham in last year’s World Cup. Beckham got a red card and Argentina went on to eliminate England from soccer’s premier event.

“Obviously I was clever by letting myself fall . . . and the referee fell into the trap . . . showing the red card,” Simeone said in Milan’s daily Gazetta dello Sport.

“Diego’s a Dirty Faker,” was the headline spread across a sports page in the tabloid Sun.

“Diego: I Conned Beck Ref,” added the Daily Star.

“Cheat Simeone,” was the response in the London Evening Standard.