PEOPLE

Senator Alan Cranston (D.-Calif.) was a fine quarter-miler in his years at Stanford (1933-36)—he ran the 440 in 48 flat and the 100 in 9.9. Now the Senator feels that it's time to compete again, and at the age of 54 he is working out four times a week in preparation for the Second Annual U.S. Masters Track and Field Championships, to be held next month in San Diego. "Actually I wanted to go last year," he says, "but I pulled a muscle and my campaign managers made me quit. They were afraid I wouldn't be in shape to campaign." The Senator isn't much on being out of shape. Two years ago he and his then 15-year-old son competed in an informal decathlon ("minus the pole vault"), coached by a couple of friends, Russ Hodge and Bill Toomey. But for the Masters meet next month Senator Cranston is concentrating on the 100-yard dash. So far he has been timed in the 50 at a masterly 5.5. "From a running start," he points out scrupulously.

Fran Tarkenton was voted Sports Father of the Year, and showed himself sensible of the honor in the most appropriate possible way: he had another baby. Matthew Francis Tarkenton arrived one week after the award.

Analysis and Theory of Coaching Football X425 is the title of a physical education class to be held at the University of California's Irvine campus this summer, and it couldn't be offered at a more opportune time. The San Diego Chargers are setting up their training camp at UCI (working out on a Rugby field because the Anteaters do not have a football team), and Coach Sid Gillman and his staff will teach the six-week course. Last week Gillman showed up at Irvine for a "kickoff" press conference, but UCI's chancellor, Daniel G. Aldrich Jr., couldn't make it—he was busy trying to prevent a student demonstration. "I hope we don't start any riots because of inadequate instruction," said Sid.

When Michael Donaldson played for the American Hockey League they called him the Toy Tiger. With his current club, the Portland (Ore.) Buckaroos of the Western Hockey League, he drew 226 minutes in penalties to set a team record for a single season. But life is obviously not all sitting in the penalty box for Mike Donaldson: he has just addressed a businesswomen's meeting in Portland on the subject of "My Hobby—Cooking."

"If things ever get bad for us financially," says Julie Nixon Eisenhower bravely, "David could play golf for money." Of course he could, dear girl. But could he win any?

In a recent interview Sir Laurence Olivier, making a point about the proper size for a theater, said, "The relation between actor and audience should be, at least in distance, about that of pitcher and batter in your baseball. A bit over 60 feet, isn't it? Otherwise, in one of those monstrous halls, one plays to reach people way up there and one becomes grotesque to those close up." The distance from the plate to the mound in the game of baseball seems like a recondite bit of knowledge for Sir Laurence. Is he, perhaps, a baseball fan? No. "He knows just enough," says a friend, "to know the size of the field and the distance between pitcher and batter." Baseball, of all games, has specialized statisticians among its followers—but a man who just memorizes the size of the field and the distance from the mound to the plate?

Norman Rockwell is taking a vacation. "I need a rest," the 75-year-old artist explained, "so I am taking a bicycle trip through...what is that place? Copenhagen. I am told they have lovely bicycle paths."

"Dad says he likes me to play tennis because it keeps me out of trouble," explained Dino Martin, after his first match at the Wills Open in Bristol, England. So Dean Martin thinks you can't get into trouble on a tennis court? His 17-year-old son (who had left his rock group home when he went to England to play tennis) drew Ken Rosewall and was dispatched 6-0, 6-0, taking only 17 points. However, when the dust settled no one saw anything but a bright side. "Well, I enjoyed that!" said young Martin. "I was very honored to be on the same court as Ken Rosewall." Ken Rosewall said that young Martin had some nice strokes. An English newspaper observed that Rosewall's methodical and unrelenting play had been a great compliment to the inexperienced boy. Moreover, Dino was paid $72 for the loss and, undaunted, plans to try to qualify for Wimbledon this week at Roehampton.

Scott Carpenter attended an auto race recently and, inevitably, was asked whether he preferred speeding around in a race car or a space capsule. "You have at least 1,100 people helping you travel to the moon," he replied. "You're by yourself on the racé-track. I'll take the moonshot."

Cathy Stockton, formerly Miss Redlands, California Citrus Queen and Maid of California, and now the wife of golfer Dave Stockton, has a new baby. "He is no problem on the tour," Cathy said the other day, "but I do have to laugh at Dave. He refuses to change diapers." "Of course," Stockton replied. "I told you when we got married and teamed up together you must abide by my rules. I'm in charge of health and recreation. You get the sanitation department."

TWO PHOTOS