Reds Defend the Spitting Image

After a fan in Cincinnati complained through the media about all the spitting the players were doing on the field and in the dugout, the Reds were asked for their reaction.

Said publicist John Braude after making a statement in defense of the players: “You probably expectorated me to say that.”

From Bill Russell, comparing Tom Lasorda’s work as a coach to when the manager was coaching for Walter Alston: “He has the same enthusiasm, the same signs, everything’s the same. Maybe his belly’s a little larger, but other than that, he hasn’t changed. If he wants you to slide, he lies down.”

Trivia Time: Bill Buckner has joined what other four players who have played first base for both the Dodgers and the Angels? (Answer below.)

Add Buckner: After he was released by the Red Sox, he told the Boston Globe: “They don’t realize how good I feel at the plate. In the last 40 games, I’ve hit over .300. I know I was ready to explode offensively. This has always been my time of year.”

Said Oakland’s Reggie Jackson when asked about the Angels’ chances in the AL West: “They could get in because they’ve got the pitching and they know how. They got Wally Joyner. One of these days you got to figure Gene Mauch is going to get lucky.”

Bo Jackson’s decision to give football a try has turned off a number of his Kansas City teammates, but George Brett says, “I’m happy for Bo. I’m a Raiders’ fan and I go to a lot of games. I look forward to seeing him play.”

Richard Justice of the Washington Post, on Detroit Tigers Manager Sparky Anderson: “A conversation with him is still a romp through anecdotes, philosophies, double negatives and misplaced metaphors. If he isn’t yet Casey Stengel, he’s at least close, particularly the moment last year when he said shortstop Alan Trammell would have to play through a shoulder problem because, ‘Pain don’t hurt.’ ”

Added Justice: “He once saw a reporter leaving one of his news conferences early and yelled, ‘Don’t leave yet. I’m just starting to sling it.’ ”

Rod Woodson, after finishing third in the high hurdles at the U.S. Olympic Festival, may go to Europe to compete rather than report to the Pittsburgh Steelers, who drafted him No. 1 at defensive back.

Woodson indicated he ultimately will report to the Steelers, saying it’s a matter of color.

“I think my destiny is to play in black and gold,” he said. “I was black and gold in high school and black and gold in college. Why not black and gold in the pros?”

Woodson went to Purdue University and Snider High School in Fort Wayne, Ind., where he also was all-conference in basketball.

Herschel Walker hasn’t forgotten that 17-14 loss to the New York Giants last year that started the Cowboys on the road to oblivion after they had gotten off to a 6-2 start.

‘After the Giants beat us, they got very cocky,” he said. “Now, it’s like people don’t respect us at all.

“I hope we get off to a fast start. It’s very important that we do because we have to regain our confidence and have to earn that respect back again. The Giants took that away from us.”

Trivia Answer: Steve Bilko, Dick Stuart, Moose Skowron, Ron Fairly.

Quotebook

Angel Manager Gene Mauch, on Bo Jackson’s decision to play football as a hobby: “It might turn from hobby to hobble.”