It’s Such a Huge Topic, There’s So Much to Say

He’s still the talk of the nation, and here’s what they’re saying about 308-pound William (The Refrigerator) Perry after his uproarious performance as a blocker and a runner for the Chicago Bears Monday night.

Coach Mike Ditka: “Usually, when two bodies hit, there’s an impact point. But not with Perry. He’s like an earth-mover.”

Running back Walter Payton: “I hope they don’t keep bringing defensive linemen into the backfield. They’ll move out all the running backs. He’s like a big waterbed that moves around.”

Bear linebacker Otis Wilson, asked how he’d stop Perry: “To be truthful, I’d just hit the ground. I’d just get out of his way. But then I’d get up and try to make it look like I’d tried to stop him so the coach wouldn’t think I was scared.”

Linebacker Dennis Johnson of Minnesota, which faces Chicago Sunday, on what to do: “When you go in, you carry an elephant gun with you. That guy’s a Mack truck going down the hill.”

Add Perry: Asked the name of the play he ran for a touchdown, he said: “It’s 34-something, 34-lead draw or something. I don’t know. I’m just out there. The only thing I know is the snap is on one or two. That’s it.”

He said he ran the same play in high school. Asked his longest run, he said: “About 20 yards. I just outran everybody.”

Last Add Perry: He picked up his nickname at Clemson, where he was an an All-American nose guard. A teammate hung the tag on him after watching him turn sideways to get into an elevator.

“It was a small elevator,” Perry says.

Trivia Time: Bill Skowron, who played in eight World Series, had his best average in the last one, hitting .385, but he didn’t endear himself to New York fans. Why? (Answer below.)

Would-you-believe-it dept.: Tom Zachary, the Washington pitcher who gave up Babe Ruth’s 60th home run in 1927, was traded to New York the following year and pitched a win in the World Series as the Yankees beat the St. Louis Cardinals in four games.

Zachary and Ruth, who started his career as a pitcher, both wound up with 3-0 World Series records.

Said San Francisco Coach Bill Walsh after being told that Ram Coach John Robinson said the 49ers have the talent to win their next nine games: “Oh, well, John’s been one of the most gracious men I’ve ever known. He gave Argentina a lot of hope in the Falkland Islands.”

When Marc Hicks of California gained 139 yards in 14 carries against Missouri, he became the first Cal freshman to rush for more than 100 yards since Jackie Jensen in 1946.

Said Coach Joe Kapp: “Is that man talented or what? He’s not only big and fast, but he’s good-looking and articulate. I’m going to send him out for my postgame interviews.”

Trivia Answer: He was playing for the Dodgers, as they swept his former team, the Yankees, in four games in 1963.

Quotebook

Former Dallas quarterback Don Meredith, on fullback Walt Garrison: “If you needed four yards, you could give the ball to Walt and he’d get you four yards. If you needed 20 yards, you could give the ball to Walt and he’d get you four yards.”