Walsh Has Montana on Spot

Last year, Matt Cavanaugh was the holder for Ray Wersching when the San Francisco 49ers attempted field goals and point-after-touchdowns.

Cavanaugh is now with Philadelphia, so Coach Bill Walsh has named Joe Montana to take over his duties.

Asked if that wasn’t a little risky, Walsh said: “People like John Brodie did it their entire careers and never were hurt.”

Brodie, of course, had the classic reply when asked why he, a million-dollar quarterback, had to hold the ball.

“Well, if I didn’t, it would fall over,” he said.

How long did it take for the Kansas City Royals to send 15 batters to the plate in the seventh inning Saturday at Boston? Said Peter May of the Hartford Courant: “Italian governments have risen and fallen in less time.”

Trivia Time: What’s the longest pro football game ever played? (Answer below.)

Amy Alcott, asked about her mental toughness, told Buddy Martin of the Denver Post it was a matter of survival.

She said she used to play hooky as a teen-ager to tee it up with the boys at Riviera Country Club.

“The blue tees from 6,800 yards at 6:15 every Tuesday and Thursday,” she said, “against Mac O’Grady and the boys back when his name was Phil McGleno--that’s where it started.”

It-had-to-happen dept.: Said ESPN announcer Marty Liquori during the 1,600-meter relay at the Olympic Festival: “Walter McCoy has the most experience of any runner in the field.” With that, McCoy dropped the baton.

Bo Jackson has his average up to .263 for the Memphis Chicks, and attendance is soaring in the Southern League.

Said John Johnson, president of the National Assn. of Professional Leagues: “I really can’t recall anybody else who has had the same kind of impact.”

Maybe he never saw Pete Gray. Gray was the one-armed outfielder who played for Memphis before joining the St. Louis Browns in 1945. In 1944, he batted .333, stole 63 bases to tie a Southern Assn. record, led all outfielders in fielding percentage and was named the league’s most valuable player.

17 Years Ago Today: Willie Stargell of the Pittsburgh Pirates became the only player to hit a ball out of Dodger Stadium. Stargell’s shot off Alan Foster cleared the right-field pavilion and landed 506 feet from home plate. Stargell hit the right-field pavilion roof on May 8, 1973 off Andy Messersmith.

How good is Rickey Henderson? Says Detroit Manager Sparky Anderson of the New York outfielder: “If the game is tied and he’s going to lead off the ninth inning, then the Yankees will win. It’s that simple. He’s the best leadoff hitter in the game.”

Said Frank Luksa of the Dallas Times Herald after the Cowboys lost to the Chicago Bears, 17-6, at London: “Since their offense didn’t score a TD, it is seven months ahead of schedule.”

Trivia Answer: On July 5, 1984, at the Coliseum, the Express defeated the Michigan Panthers, 27-21, in a USFL playoff game that lasted 93 minutes 33 seconds. With 3:33 gone in the seventh quarter, Mel Gray ran 24 yards for the winning touchdown. He broke his arm on the run.

Quotebook

Tim Raines of the Montreal Expos, asked who else he would like to be if he had a choice: “Junkyard Dog, pro wrestler. I’d like to beat King Kong Bundy.”