But did this unstoppable cyborg actually say, ‘I’ll be back’?

With the Oscars less than a week away, there’s no better time to slip movie references into our daily lives than now. Even in sports.

After a throttling Saturday at the hands of Oklahoma, Texas Tech Coach Pat Knight delivered a curious movie reference during the postgame news conference.

Knight, whose team crumbled thanks to the 40-point, 23-rebound performance by Sooners sophomore Blake Griffin, shook his head in disbelief as he spoke.

“Have you guys ever seen the movie, ‘The Terminator’?” a straight-faced Knight asked reporters. “That’s what that kid is like. That kid has no facial expressions. He just plays and it’s like every kid out there on him is like Sarah Connor, and he’s just going to take his time and kill ‘em.”

It’s hard to figure out what stands out more: Griffin’s performance or 38-year-old Knight’s vivid memories of the 1984 movie after a crushing defeat?

Trivia time

What was the first sports movie to win best picture at the Oscars?

By the numbers

Once again, Hollywood will turn to literature for material.

According to a report by trade magazine Variety this month, director Steven Soderbergh is in talks to direct an adaptation of Michael Lewis’ book, “Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game.”

The book made famous the philosophies of Oakland Athletics General Manager Billy Beane, who used sophisticated statistical analysis to field teams at a fraction of the payrolls of big-market teams.

Brad Pitt, who has appeared in several Soderbergh films, is the rumored front-runner for the role of Beane.

Somewhere, Hollywood’s usual baseball man, Kevin Costner, is probably wishing he were younger.

Fitting in

For San Diego reliever Heath Bell, another type of screen helped his career.

Bell, the successor to all-time saves leader Trevor Hoffman, told the Associated Press that the Nintendo Wii Fit helped him drop 25 pounds, to 245, over the off-season.

“I literally took the game to heart,” he said. “I did the work but I kind of credit the Wii Fit.”

Trivia answer

“Rocky,” written by the film’s hulking star Sylvester Stallone, carried its underdog theme beyond the screen by nabbing the best picture award in 1976.

And finally

How’s this for less-than-fulfilling Hollywood ending?

Brett Favre, who announced yet another retirement last week, is the NFL leader in nearly every passing category -- he’s the all-time touchdown, yards and interceptions leader.

But the three-time most valuable player is the proud owner of another dubious distinction: According to Stats LLC, Favre’s last completed pass with his three teams -- Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers and New York Jets -- were all interceptions.

Aw, sad.

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james.wagner@latimes.com