If He’s Cut, It Will Add to His Scars

Bruce Collie, a 275-pound offensive tackle from the University of Texas Arlington who was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers, would probably fit in better with the Raiders.

According to Harless Wade of the Dallas Morning News, Collie has a 10-inch scar on his stomach from a knifing, a scar over his right eye from a beer bottle, a scar on one cheek from another beer bottle and a scar on his foot. Yep, another beer bottle.

“Bruce is built like Superman, but he’s always had more trouble off the field than on it,” said Johnny Branson, offensive line coach at Texas Arlington. “All those scars are there. He also broke an ankle roller skating in the off-season and cut his foot wide open another time in a swimming-pool accident.”

Trivia time: What do pitchers Kirk McCaskill and Orel Hershiser have in common with jockeys Chris McCarron and Sandy Hawley?

A new trend?: Ricky Hunley, the Denver Broncos’ second-year linebacker from the University of Arizona, has hired Orchid Public Relations of Hollywood to help make him a star.

“It’s a new field,” Hunley told Michael Knisley of the Denver Post. “Not too many athletes have gotten into it yet, but it’s necessary. They’ll do things, family-oriented things, like getting stories in family magazines with my mom--things like that.

“They’ll take the business approach. They’ll get stories out about my travel agency, or they’ll get me an appearance on ‘Hour Magazine.’ Maybe they’ll get me in one of those superstar competitions.”

Although several baseball and basketball stars have their own publicists, it’s rare in football. Milton Allen, general manager of Orchid, said Mark Gastineau of the New York Jets is the only other one. “I think Gastineau might have waited a little too long to hire himself a publicist,” Allen said.

Of course, personal publicists aren’t cheap. “It costs me quite a bit,” Hunley said. “But what I’m going to get out of it is well worth it. It’s a flat fee, plus expenses. Most guys can’t afford it.”

Said Sal Bando, to brother Chris, the Cleveland Indians’ catcher, who has been struggling at the plate this season: “Hey, they started calling you Oscar yet? Every time I look in the paper, all I see are zeroes next to your name.”

Trivia answer: They all wanted to play in the National Hockey League.

Quotebook

Former Angel Albie Pearson, on ex-roommate Bo Belinsky: “I never saw him at night. I roomed with his suitcase.”