Hard Work: Namath Might Pass

Ed Meyer of the Akron Beacon Journal said if Joe Namath’s visit to the Cleveland Browns’ camp last season was any indication of his work habits it’s no wonder he was dropped from Monday Night Football.

Meyer: “A few days before the Browns’ Sept. 16 Monday night game game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Namath pulled up at Baldwin-Wallace College in a white limousine that was nearly as long as the practice field.

“When he got out, deeply tanned and clad in a pair of tennis shorts, he was accompanied by his pregnant wife.

“Namath did a short interview with Bernie Kosar, then spent the rest of his time talking about golf and fishing with an old friend, Brown Coach Marty Schottenheimer. When practice began, Namath and his wife got into the chauffeur-driven limousine and pulled away.

“Tough life.”

Trivia Time: When Roberto de Vicenzo signed an incorrect scorecard in the 1968 Masters, who had written down the wrong score? (Answer in column 4.)

Arnie Ferrin, 61, a member of the NCAA basketball committee, played at the University of Utah where, as a freshman, he led the Utes to the 1943-44 NCAA title and was named the Most Valuable Player.

He later played for the Minneapolis Lakers, who set an NBA record by winning 27 straight home games in 1949-50.

In this year’s NCAA, Pervis Ellison of Louisville became the second freshman to be chosen MVP. Two nights later, the Boston Celtics won their 28th straight game at home to break the Lakers’ record.

“It’s been a tough week,” Ferrin told the St. Paul Pioneer Press. “All my history, it seems, is going down the drain.”

Note: The Lakers, who went on to win the NBA title, were led by George Mikan. Among the reserves was Harry Grant, later to be known as Bud Grant, coach of the Minnesota Vikings.

Al Lorenzen of the University of Iowa basketball team told the Des Moines Register that George Raveling took extra abuse from Hawkeye fans because he was black.

“A lot of the racism that surfaced during the course of the year had a great effect on him,” Lorenzen said. “In our society today there’s no place for that. He put up with an awful lot of abuse over the course of three years.”

Detroit Pistons Coach Chuck Daly, on Larry Bird: “He’s the best passer in the league. He finds the open man better than anybody else. He is the greatest passer of all time.”

Note: On a recent telecast, as Bird was preparing to throw the ball in, CBS analyst Doug Collins said: “Larry Bird is the greatest inbounds passer I have ever seen.”

Cleveland Indians pitcher Phil Niekro has been helping fellow starter Tom Candiotti on his knuckleball.

What’s been the most significant tip? The grip? The delivery?

“Actually,” Candiotti said, “Phil’s helped a lot on hardening my nails. It’s a real problem when they start to split.”

Trivia Answer: Tommy Aaron, who was De Vicenzo’s playing partner. He wrote down a 4 instead of a 3 on the 17th hole. When De Vicenzo signed the card, that gave the win to Bob Goalby by a stroke. Otherwise, the two would have tied and there would have been a playoff. Note: Aaron had majored in mathematics at the University of Florida.

Quotebook

Ken Harrelson, director of operations for the Chicago White Sox, on why he wants a general manager: “So I can fire someone when I screw up.”