Smith Not Always on the Ball

On the night he recorded his 600th coaching victory, North Carolina basketball Coach Dean Smith recalled the first game he coached, against Virginia in 1961-62.

“I thought I was really organized,” Smith said. “We had a great game plan, and the team was ready to play. As we took the floor, the referee said, ‘Where’s the ball?’

“I had thought of everything except the most important thing--you have to have a game ball to play with.”

When Miami football Coach Jimmy Johnson referred to Penn State Coach Joe Paterno as St. Joe, it wasn’t with a voice of reverence. But maybe Joe does have connections.

Dave Daniels, a star high school receiver from Sarasota, Fla., who signed with Penn State, said it was a real struggle to decide which college to attend.

“So I asked God to help me,” he said. “That night, I had a dream. I dreamed I walked out on a football field for warm-ups, and when I looked up at the head coach it was Joe Paterno.”

What is a date with George Raveling worth?

At the Big Brothers Bachelor Auction Thursday night at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, the USC basketball coach was claimed for $400.

The winner gets a night out with Raveling, with him picking up the tab.

The price for Raveling was in the middle of the scale, according to a spokeswoman. John Beard, a Channel 4 anchorman, attracted the top bid of $4,200.

Many-happy-returns dept.: As Johnny Longden turns 80 today, also celebrating will be Woody Hayes and Mel Allen. They’re both 74.

Trivia Time: Johnny Longden is the only man in Kentucky Derby history to win as both a rider and a trainer. Who were the horses? (Answer below.)

A couple of seasons ago, Quebec goalie Dan Bouchard, after being named National Hockey League player of the month, said: “Was Wayne Gretzky sick?”

Good question. Starting six years ago, the NHL has made 40 player of the month awards. According to figures compiled by the New York Times, Gretzky has won the award 23 times. That’s more than the rest of the players combined.

Mike Bossy is second with five, and no other player has more than one.

From George Kiseda of Los Angeles: “Before anyone starts to feel sorry for Orel Hershiser, consider this: His 20% pay cut may be less than a 1% cut.

“Under 1986 tax laws, Hershiser was in the 50% tax bracket, which meant he could keep only $500,000 of his $1-million salary--unless he had a juggler for a tax accountant.

“Under 1987 tax law, the most Hershiser can pay is 38.5%. He gets to keep $492,000.

“That’s a cut of only $8,000 from 1986.”

Max Emfinger, the recruiting expert who picks the nation’s top 100 high school football players for United Press International, is crowning Texas A&M; as the recruiting champion of 1987.

Among the blue-chippers landed by the Aggies was Randy Simmons of McKinney, Tex., rated the best running back in the state.

“I think their class is better than the SMU group with Eric Dickerson and Craig James,” Emfinger said. “I think it will be the best in the country. Simmons puts them over the top.”

Trivia Answer: He rode Count Fleet in 1943 and trained Majestic Prince in 1969.

Quotebook

Norman Chad of the Washington Post, on basketball analyst Dick Vitale: “His voice could peel the skin off a potato.”