Test Results Prove It: Walker Is Rock Solid

If you thought Herschel Walker looked like a human bowling ball last Sunday as he scattered St. Louis players like tenpins, you had it right. He’s just about as solid.

When Walker reported to the Dallas camp this summer, he was lowered into an immersion tank, as were the other Cowboys, to determine what portion of his 220 pounds was body fat.

According to the New York Times, “The result was a stupefying 1.42%. Other than for a handful of world-class marathoners, that is less than has ever been recorded by the Aerobics Center in Dallas.”

Ken Cooper, head of the center, said the ideal average is 9% and 13% is acceptable. He said Ralph Sampson, 15 inches taller than Walker and only 4 pounds heavier, tested at 6%. Manute Bol, the human beanpole of the Washington Bullets, tested at 8.8%.

Mackie Shilstone, the New Orleans fitness expert who helped Bol beef up this summer, was flabbergasted when he heard Walker’s figures

“He’s like the Rock of Gibralter,” Shilstone said.

Add Walker: Dallas offensive coordinator Paul Hackett told Paul Daugherty of Newsday that he’s been most impressed by Walker’s ability as a student of the game.

Hackett: “He has a fascination with what we’re doing. And remember, he’s having to learn three positions--tailback, fullback and flanker. No one else has to do that. I don’t think I’ve been around a receiver or a running back who has learned so much so quickly.”

Last Add Walker: Of his success as a receiver, he said: “It looked like they didn’t know Herschel could go downfield. The Lord blessed me with speed. I try to use it.”

Trivia Time: What do quarterbacks Ken O’Brien of the New York Jets and Mike Moroski of the San Francisco 49ers have in common? (Answer below.)

From Wilt Chamberlain, somewhat bemused by the new twin-tower mentality in the NBA: “I remember playing in the same lineup with Bill Russell in an All-Star game. Do you know what happened? We lost.”

This was the lead of Newsday’s Jerry Sullivan after the New Jersey Nets beat the New York Knicks Friday night: “EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.--True, it is only one game, but they still looked suspiciously like the New York Knicks you came to know and loathe over the past two seasons.”

Vicious.

From BYU Coach LaVell Edwards, who is one of 14 children: “The reason they can’t fire me is because my family buys too many tickets.”

Florida State Coach Bobby Bowden, on Miami quarterback Vinny Testaverde: “He is flat-cold-out the most dominating individual I’ve ever seen on a football team. That includes O.J. Simpson and anyone else you want to name. He does things that you can’t even coach against.”

Trivia Answer: Both went to UC Davis.

Quotebook

Ken Green, on his win over David Edwards in the Tucson Match Play golf tournament despite missing several short putts: “I was giving him so many chances to come back, I was feeling like the Boston Red Sox.”