There’s Only One Coach, One School for Walton

Bill Walton and John Wooden had their differences at UCLA, but the big redhead says there is no other coach he would have played for. It’s not even close.

Recalling all the offers he got out of Helix High School, Walton told Don Lessem of the Boston Globe: “I never played the recruiting game. I wanted to play for Wooden more than I wanted anything in life, except to play for the Celtics.”

Looking back, he says of Wooden: “He taught you everything, beginning with how to put on your socks. He made you learn every aspect of the game. He’s a great man.”

Walton also gives UCLA his highest endorsement.

“It is the greatest place on earth,” he said. “I loved college. I loved going to classes. I wish I could still do it.”

That’s quite a contrast to what Jim McMahon had to say when asked his most memorable experience at Brigham Young.

“Leaving,” McMahon said.

Trivia Time: What do Pro Football Hall of Fame members Pete Rozelle, Hugh McElhenny and Joe Perry have in common? (Answer below.)

Sid Luckman, the greatest of all Chicago Bear quarterbacks, led the team to four NFL championships. Included was the 73-0 rout of the Washington Redskins in 1940 and the 41-21 win over Washington in 1943 when he threw a record five touchdown passes.

So what does he think of the current Bears?

“They’re simply a tremendous team, with personality, intensity and a drive to win,” he told Ray Didinger of the Philadelphia Daily News. “They’ve captured more than a city, they’ve captured a country.

“The teams of our generation would have found it hard to compete now. There’s always a Gale Sayers, a George McAfee or a Bill Osmanski who would make any team any time, but this is, without a doubt, the finest Bear team I’ve seen in my lifetime.”

Mariano Duncan booted a grounder, and a dynasty has ended in the Dominican Republic last week.

Duncan was playing shortstop for the Licey Tigers who had won three straight Dominican Republic Winter League championships. In the eighth inning of the decisive game against the Cibao Eagles, Licey was leading, 6-5, when Cibao loaded the bases with one out.

Miguel Dilone of Cibao hit a grounder to short that appeared to be a double-play ball, but Duncan booted it and two runs scored. Cibao won the game, 7-6.

Joanne Carner, who this year will become the first woman to win $2 million on the LPGA Tour, told Bob Keim of The Sporting News that she leaves nothing to chance when working on her short game.

“You have to want to win,” she said, “and if you want to win, you stay in there and practice totally different. What I try to do is chip every ball in the hole. You’re not going to do it every time, but that’s the attitude you have to have.

“I won’t let myself out of the bunker until I hole one out. I do that with everything I do, and a lot of times I have to stand there longer than I want. But I stay sharp and consistent.”

Michael Owens, a blue-chip running back from Carlisle, Pa., has decided to attend Syracuse on the promise he will receive the fabled No. 44 jersey. Jim Brown, Ernie Davis and Floyd Little wore No. 44 at Syracuse.

While agreeing to Owens’ request, Syracuse hopes he lasts longer than the last two players to wear the number at the school. Michael Robinson and Glenn Moore encountered scholastic problems and both transferred to Wyoming.

Trivia Answer: All three went to Compton College.

Quotebook

Former New York Ranger goaltender John Davidson, on what he enjoys most about retirement: “No curfews.”