Bird’s Not Only Good but Tricky

Doug Collins, coach of the Chicago Bulls, thought he had seen all of Larry Bird’s tricks until he watched a film of a recent game between the Boston Celtics and the New Jersey Nets.

Collins told Bob Verdi of the Chicago Tribune how it went.

“Bird throws the ball inbounds,” Collins said. “Then he leans over to pick up something, like a gum wrapper. The guy guarding him falls for it. All of a sudden, Bird blows by him, gets the ball back and scores. It’s like that old your-shoe’s-untied trick. Guy looks down while you pick his pocket.

“I tell you, that Bird is something. He’ll cut your heart out.”

Trivia Time: On this date in 1934, the New York Giants defeated the Chicago Bears, 30-13, in the NFL championship game. Why was it called the Sneaker Game? (Answer below.)

Quickie Quiz: Five running backs who have won the Heisman Trophy were in action Sunday and Monday in the NFL. Which one netted the most yardage? (Answer below.)

Said New Orleans Saint Coach Jim Mora after Sunday’s 31-27 loss to the Miami Dolphins: “We’re disappointed as a team, very disappointed, but we’ll bounce back and get ready for Atlanta, I guarantee you. We’re down and disappointed, and that’s natural. I’d be disappointed if we weren’t down and disappointed.”

Whew.

Michigan Coach Bo Schembechler said quarterback Jim Harbaugh, as one of the five Heisman Trophy finalists, was invited to New York last Saturday for the award dinner.

“I told Harbaugh he wouldn’t be able to go because we had a game that day in Hawaii,” Schembechler said. “He said, ‘Will they ship the trophy out to Honolulu?’ ”

Cleveland Cavalier assistant coach Brian Winters, on humility: “I got humbled early when I was in that four-for-one deal for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. I was told I was worth one of Kareem’s limbs.”

It was a long afternoon for Jay Schroeder Sunday, but at least he joined some select company. By throwing six interceptions against the Giants, he tied the Washington Redskin record held by Sammy Baugh. Baugh set it in 1951, also against the Giants.

Add Interceptions: The NFL record is eight, set by Jim Hardy of the Chicago Cardinals in 1950 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Did Hardy let it get him down?

Hardly. The next week against the Baltimore Colts, he threw six touchdown passes, one shy of the NFL record. Five of them were caught by Bob Shaw, setting an NFL record that still stands. Kellen Winslow of San Diego tied the record in 1981.

Hall of Fame linebacker Sam Huff, an alumnus of both teams, had this to say after the Giants-Redskins game: “Lawrence Taylor is the best defensive player I have ever seen.”

Trivia Answer: On a frozen field at the Polo Grounds, the Giants were trailing the Bears, 10-3, at halftime when Coach Steve Owen sent out for some tennis shoes. The Giants changed to the sneakers, which gave them better traction. In the second half, they outscored the Bears, 27-3.

Quiz Answer: Charles White of the Rams with 41 yards. He was followed by Tony Dorsett with 36, Herschel Walker with 33, George Rogers with 22, and Marcus Allen with 12.

Quotebook

Michigan football Coach Bo Schembechler, asked whether he would retire to the athletic directorship if he won a national championship: “They don’t hire athletic directors at the age of 90.”