It’s Easy to Court Trouble in Iowa

How much of a fishbowl does the basketball coach at the University of Iowa live in? Former Hawkeye Coach George Raveling, now the coach at USC, tells this story:

“The first season, right after I’d come from Washington State to Iowa, somebody asked me at the press conference whether the team I inherited was the ideal makeup I would like to have. I told the truth, saying that, no, it wasn’t quite the ideal team I’d like to have.

“Well, that got huge headlines all over the state the next day. We got hundreds of phone calls, and a day or so later, I got a Federal Express letter from two 84-year-old ladies. They said they’d been lifelong Iowa basketball fans and that, if the boys that were there to play weren’t good enough for me, I ought to just go right back to where I came from.

“Enclosed in the letter, along with a note that they had dipped into their savings to purchase it, was a one-way Greyhound ticket. It was to Pullman.”

It-had-to-happen Dept.: A new addition to the video market is an exercise tape called “Bill Walton’s Family Fitness,” selling for $29.95. The man who made it currently is on the Boston Celtics injury list with finger and ankle ailments.

Colorado nose guard Mike Rappold didn’t take kindly to Brian Bosworth’s prediction that Oklahoma would shut out the Buffaloes today.

Rappold: “If we don’t beat Oklahoma, we’re going to beat them up so bad they’ll lose to Nebraska.”

Trivia Time: Who gave up the first major league hit to Bo Jackson? (Answer below.)

Would-you-believe-it Dept.: The National Sports Review asked a number of athletes which athlete in another sport they most admired. Said Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: “Mike Tyson. He’s young, but his potential is unlimited. He has a great future.”

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Earnest Jackson, formerly of the San Diego Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles, told the Associated Press that in San Diego he learned how to obtain steroids on the black market.

“There’s a few guys that mess around with them,” he said. “I never have.”

Asked why, he said, “Because I was traded, so it knocked out the opportunity to use them.”

From Dallas Mavericks Coach Dick Motta, explaining the absence of reserve center Bill Wennington because of back spasms: “He hurt himself playing pinochle. He had to reach for his wallet. When he does that, he hurts all over.”

Ouch: Sacramento Kings General Manager Joe Axelson, on rookie forward Johnny Rogers from UC Irvine: “That’s Rogers with no D--either in the name or on the floor.”

Now-it-can-be-told Dept.: Hall of Fame slugger Harmon Killebrew, a native of Payette, Ida., told the Huntville (Ala.) Times: “I was a high school All-America quarterback and I accepted a football and baseball scholarship at the University of Oregon. Later, I decided to play baseball and at 17 went up the the major leagues. Four years later, Oregon went to the Rose Bowl. I’ve always wondered if I had played football if Oregon would have gone to that Rose Bowl.”

Note: Oregon lost to Ohio State, 10-7, in the 1958 Rose Bowl. The Buckeyes were 19-point favorites but were outgained in total yardage, 351-304, and Oregon quarterback Jack Crabtree was voted player of the game.

Trivia Answer: Steve Carlton.

Quotebook

Magic Johnson of the Lakers, told that Akeem Olajuwon of the Houston Rockets speaks six languages: “He only needs one--’Give me the ball.’ ”