Robinson Isn’t Ready for Grinder

David Robinson had 30 points and 15 rebounds in Navy’s 75-71 win over Lafayette Wednesday night, but Lafayette Coach Bill van Breda Kolff wasn’t that impressed.

“If he’s thinking of the NBA, he might need more desire and a weightlifting program,” said Van Breda Kolff, a former NBA coach. “He had 30, yes, but we’re a small team. He did us a favor by not going inside and dominating the game. He was in love with that fallaway jumper.

“In the NBA, it’s a lot of big guys with muscles, pushing and shoving for 82 games. In the NBA, he’ll be finessed right into the corner.”

Robinson said he had trouble getting up for Lafayette. When Van Breda Kolff heard that, he exploded.

“What the hell is he going to do in the NBA, get up for the Boston Celtics and not the Los Angeles Clippers?” Van Breda Kolff said. “It’s a game of consistency.”

Question: Weren’t a lot of people saying the same things about that tall, graceful kid out of UCLA? His name was Lew Alcindor.

Now-it-can-be-told Dept.: Catfish Hunter, just named to the Hall of Fame, was recalling the 1978 World Series against the Dodgers, when he was scheduled to pitch the sixth game at Dodger Stadium. The Yankees were leading, 3 games to 2.

“That night, I had an airplane ticket home the next day,” he told Dave Anderson of the New York Times, “Lou Piniella somehow found it and walked around the clubhouse saying, ‘This guy thinks he’s gonna win, this guy is going home tomorrow.’ ”

He did. Davey Lopes tagged him for a leadoff homer, but he settled down and with help from Goose Gossage beat the Dodgers, 7-2.

Would-you-believe-it Dept.: If Catfish Hunter came out of retirement and joined the Yankees, he would be the third oldest pitcher on the staff. Tommy John is 43, Joe Niekro 42. Hunter is 40.

Trivia Time: If the 1986 Giants emulate the 1986 Mets, the city of New York will have both the World Series and Super Bowl champions in the same season. Has any other city done this? (Answer below.)

Fashion Note: Wide receiver Vance Johnson of the Denver Broncos had his ears pierced at a shopping mall in Denver the other day.

“It hurt a lot more than when I get hit on the football field,” he said, “I just gritted my teeth real hard. If we weren’t going to the Super Bowl, I wouldn’t have done it. I’m a person who dares to be different. But I’m not gay.”

Travel Note: If you’re visiting Singapore on Super Sunday, you’ll be able to see the game live via satellite transmission at the Pavilion Hotel. Cost is $90, but they throw in breakfast and all the Bloody Marys you can drink.

True Confession: From Don Mattingly of the New York Yankees: “Honestly, at one time I thought Babe Ruth was a cartoon character. I really did. I mean, I wasn’t born until 1961, and I grew up in Indiana.”

Pat Quinn, who was expelled as coach of the Kings, told the Washington Post by phone: “I’ve been trying for years to get hockey on the front pages out here, but this wasn’t exactly what I had in mind.”

Trivia Answer: Yes, Baltimore in 1970 and Pittsburgh in 1979.

Quotebook

Mike Schuler, coach of the Portland Trail Blazers: “There are three groups you don’t mess with in this world--the FBI, the Mafia and NBA referees.”