Theismann Doesn’t Like McMahon as Role Model

Just when you thought it was safe to read the sports section again, Jim McMahon is back in the headlines.

For once, though, it has nothing to do with anything the Chicago Bear quarterback did or said.

It has to do with something Joe Theismann said.

At a B’nai B’rith sports dinner Monday night in Hamilton, Canada, the Washington Redskin quarterback was critical of McMahon as a player and a person.

According to an Associated Press account, Theismann said: “Wearing sunglasses and punk haircuts, that may be his way of expressing his individualism. But there is a responsibility to the youth. What he doesn’t realize is kids look up to him. Maybe he doesn’t care.

“I sure wouldn’t want my kids growing up like him.”

Evaluating McMahon as a quarterback, Theismann said: “Let him play a full season and then we’ll see. Personally, I don’t think he’s physically capable of playing a full 16-game schedule.”

McMahon missed three full games and two more starts last season with injuries. In 1984 he missed the last six regular-season games and two playoff games with a lacerated kidney.

As for McMahon’s performance in the Bears’ 46-10 Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots, Theismann said: “Defense won them the Super Bowl. Walter Payton could have been the quarterback and the story would have been the same.”

Theismann’s opinion of McMahon’s role in the Super Bowl is not unanimous. The Bear quarterback was in Los Angeles Tuesday to receive a car from Playboy magazine for being named its most valuable player in the Super Bowl. He also appeared on “The Tonight Show” Tuesday night.

The AP reached McMahon in Burbank, but McMahon declined to come to the telephone. NBC page Jim McRae quoted him as saying: “I don’t listen to remarks made by gentlemen who can’t punt more than one yard. That will be my only comment on the matter.”

McMahon was referring to Theismann’s kicking performance in the Bears’ 45-10 victory over the Redskins on Sept. 29. Jeff Hayes, Washington’s punter, suffered an injury on a 99-yard kickoff return by Chicago’s Willie Gault.

Theismann was pressed into service and his lone punt went one yard.

McMahon’s agent, Steve Zucker of Chicago, however, was more expressive.

“Joe Theismann likes to hear himself talk,” he said. “I’ll tell you the difference between Jim McMahon and Joe Theismann. When Jim sits down to eat, his teammates sit down with him. They love Jim. When Joe Theismann sits down to eat, he sits down alone. His teammates don’t want to have anything to do with him. At least, that’s what press people have told me.”

In particular, Theismann said, he was offended by McMahon’s headbands. The Bear quarterback wore headbands during the regular season that promoted a shoe company and then, after having been fined by the league, wore a headband bearing NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle’s name during the NFC championship victory against the Rams.

“We have rules and regulations we’re expected to follow, and one is that we don’t do commercial advertisements (on the field),” Theismann said. “He did it, got fined for it as he should, and then literally comes out and says, ‘Stick it (in) your ear.’ ”

According to Theismann, McMahon has a lack of respect for the rules of life as a professional athlete.

“He should remember where he is,” Theismann said. “If it weren’t for football, he’d be some yo-yo out there drinking beer.”

It is doubtful that McMahon will wear a Theismann headband next season.

Yo-yo, maybe.