Sugar Ray’s Plan: It’s Run and Write

The press conference was lagging, so Sugar Ray Leonard decided to conduct his own interview.

“How would you fight Marvelous Marvin Hagler?” Sugar Ray asked of Sugar Ray.

“The best way, in all honesty, is to run,” he said. “But not just run. Leave little memos behind.”

Said Coach Mike Ditka of the Chicago Bears when asked what quarterback he would start in the playoffs: “Why couldn’t we wait? Do we have a John Unitas on this team?”

Add Ditka: Explaining his admiration of Doug Flutie, he said: “Years ago, when President Kennedy won, he had charisma. Flutie has character and he has charisma.

“He’s the only quarterback I’ve seen in my five years here who comes in early on Monday to study the films and comes in early on Wednesday. Believe me, fellas, it’s going to pay off for him.”

Trivia Time: Why did they choose a solid block of granite as the trophy for the Lombardi Award, which goes to the nation’s top college lineman? (Answer below.)

10 Years Ago Today: Linda Wilson, a graduate of Kearny High School in San Diego, recalls that on Dec. 10, 1976, Kearny lost in the San Diego Section final to El Camino, 39-28. El Camino was led by Dokie Williams, who scored on kickoff returns of 92 and 89 yards.

A year later, Kearny lost to San Diego Lincoln, 34-6. Lincoln was led by quarterback Marcus Allen, who scored all five touchdowns, one on a 60-yard interception return.

Would-you-believe-it Dept.: Three weeks ago, when the Seattle Seahawks were 5-6 and talking about trying Sean Salisbury at quarterback, Steve Kelley of the Seattle Times wrote: “The Seahawks no longer are a mediocre team. They’re a bad team, right down there with the Houston Oilers, St. Louis Cardinals and next week’s opponent, the Philadelphia Eagles.”

Was Joe Namath overrated? Gary Pomerantz of the Washington Post posed the question while noting that Namath threw 45 more interceptions than touchdowns, 215 to 170. His teams had a .456 winning percentage and made the playoffs only twice.

Don Maynard, his favorite receiver with the New York Jets, didn’t want to hear about it.

“It’s kind of strange, but every time somebody comes along, he’s compared to Namath,” Maynard said. “But as I watch Elway, Marino and the rest of them, I don’t see anybody who throws as well as Joe. The ball gets to the receivers so late now on the out patterns.

“Joe’s greatest ability was his anticipation. Of course, he had four Texan receivers who never busted but one play in eight years when playing with him, and that gave Joe the confidence that he never had to worry about somebody changing or cheating him on a pass route.”

The Texans were Maynard (Texas Western), George Sauer (Texas), Pete Lammons (Texas) and Bake Turner (Texas Tech).

Trivia Answer: Lombardi was a member of the famed Seven Blocks of Granite at Fordham. They were Leo Paquin and Johnny Druze at ends, Ed Franco and Al Babartsky at tackles, Lombardi and Nat Pierce at guards and Alex Wojciechowicz at center. In three straight defensive classics against powerful Pittsburgh, in 1935-37, the teams battled to 0-0 ties.

Quotebook

Former quarterback Terry Bradshaw, on playing in pain: “They always tell you that you have it suck it up. Hey, I still don’t know what suck it up means.”