Too Much Sugar in Sparring Partner

Floyd Weaver, one of Marvin Hagler’s sparring partners, had always been an admirer of Sugar Ray Leonard and had adopted his style of fighting. He had even adopted the flourishes--the Sugar Ray shuffle, the bolo-punch windup, even the mimicry and the taunts.

According to Sam Smith of the Chicago Tribune, Weaver was encouraged to use all the flourishes in sparring sessions, although trainer Goody Petronelli suggested he lay off the taunts.

Wrote Smith: “It seems in his youthful 23-year-old exuberance, Floyd tried it anyway, and not too long afterward he was on his back, his feet moving but not taking him anywhere.”

Add Fight: From Jim Jacobs, co-manager of Mike Tyson, giving Sugar Ray Leonard little chance: “Let me assure you, the Leonard you’ll see Monday night will be a long way from the Leonard people remember.”

Stop the Presses: United Press International is picking the Dodgers to win the National League West. Not only that, it picks them to beat the St. Louis Cardinals in the playoffs.

Toronto is picked to defeat Kansas City in the American League playoffs and then beat the Dodgers in the World Series.

Trivia Time: Name the only two NBA coaches who have won division titles with three different teams. (Answer below.)

In his 21 seasons, Reggie Jackson has played for the following 12 managers: Luke Appling, Hank Bauer, Alvin Dark, Dick Howser, Bob Kennedy, Bob Lemon, Billy Martin, Gene Mauch, John McNamara, Gene Michael, Earl Weaver and Dick Williams.

So who’s the best?

“Dick Williams,” Jackson told The Sporting News.

Add Jackson: Here’s his all-star team of players he’s seen or played against: 1B--Willie McCovey; 2B--Joe Morgan; 3B--Mike Schmidt; SS--Cal Ripken; OF--Henry Aaron, Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente; C--Johnny Bench; P--Catfish Hunter, Ron Guidry, Rollie Fingers, Goose Gossage.

When the Philadelphia 76ers made their last trip to Detroit, former Michigan star Tim McCormick invited the team to his house for dinner.

“My mom extended the invitation two weeks before the game but she wasn’t sure how many of the guys would come,” McCormick said. “When Charles Barkley said he would, she said, ‘I better start cooking right now.’ ”

North Carolina State basketball Coach Jim Valvano, on the NCAA tournament: “A great national event. Ranks right up there with the World Series, the Super Bowl . . . or a good Italian wedding.”

On his first college coaching job at Johns Hopkins: “I was the tallest person in the program. I put the ophthalmologist in for the pediatrician.”

Here’s how Montreal Expos catcher Mike Fitzgerald, a former New York Met, evaluated Dwight Gooden’s performance in his last game before testing positively for drugs: “He just doesn’t look the same. I think they should go back and look at films of ’84. He threw a few changeups today, too. I don’t know why he needs it with his fastball and curveball. If I were back there, I wouldn’t have him throwing any.”

Trivia Answer: Bill Fitch (Cleveland, Boston, Houston) and Dick Motta (Chicago, Washington, Dallas). Dallas clinched the Midwest Division title Friday night.

Quotebook

Jim Leyland, reflecting on his first season as manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1986: “I knew I was in trouble opening day. When they played the National Anthem, the player next to me said, ‘Every time they play that song I have a bad day.’ ”