Obviously, This Was Bull, Not Bear Market

Steve McMichael couldn’t believe it. His wife, Debra, not only didn’t win the Mrs. America Pageant, she didn’t even make the first cut.

McMichael, defensive tackle for the Chicago Bears, had just returned to camp from Las Vegas, where the contest was held Monday night. His wife, who had won the Mrs. Illinois pageant, was among 50 contestants. She was eliminated when the field was cut to 10 semifinalists.

“They picked girls I wouldn’t pick up in a bar if I were single,” McMichael said.

The winner was Pamela Nail, a 24-year model from Jackson, Miss.

Asked about the judging criteria, McMichael shook his head.

“Maybe it was, ‘Take five drinks and vote,’ ” he said

Add Bears: William Perry, who was phased out of the offense as he gained weight last year, has been carrying the ball again in workouts.

Said defensive back Gary Fencik after the Fridge blasted through everyone on a 5-yard touchdown run: “Did you see all the body parts?”

A number of books have been written by members of the New York Giants, and some of the authors have taken some pretty good shots at various teammates.

Phil McConkey doesn’t think it will be a problem, however.

He told Peter King of Newsday: “I like what Keith Van Horne of the Bears said last fall when a lot of their guys wrote books. He said, ‘None of the Bears can read, so it won’t make any difference.’ ”

Add Giants: Coach Bill Parcells, asked to pick the winners in the other divisions, picked the Rams in the NFC West and said of the AFC West: “Seattle is up and coming but you can’t count out Los Angeles or Denver.”

His other picks were Chicago (NFC Central), New England (AFC East) and Cincinnati or Cleveland (AFC Central).

Trivia Time: After the Juan Marichal-John Roseboro incident in 1965 at Candlestick Park, what happened when Willie Mays faced Sandy Koufax in the same inning? (Answer below.)

For the Record: Channel 11 producer Mark Wolfson, explaining Friday night’s trivia answer, said Johnny Sain made the last pitch to Babe Ruth in a 1945 War Relief Game at Yankee Stadium.

“Sain played on a Naval Air Cadet team that included Ted Williams and Johnny Pesky,” Wolfson said. “They played against an all-star team managed by Ruth. While Sain was pitching, Ruth inserted himself as a pinch-hitter. Sain walked him.”

Ruth was 50. He died three years later.

Said Ivan Lendl, a golf nut, after his 7-6, 6-3 win over Jim Pugh in the Volvo International Wednesday at Stratton, Vt.: “If I had to play a third set, I would have missed nine holes.”

Of his devotion to the links, he said: “I’ve been playing until dark, and even then I’m thinking about putting my car on the green so I can putt.”

35 Years Ago Today: On Aug. 6, 1952, Satchel Paige of the St. Louis Browns, at age 47, became the oldest pitcher in major league history to pitch a complete game or a shutout when he beat Virgil Trucks and the Detroit Tigers, 1-0, in 12 innings.

Trivia Answer: Mays hit a three-run homer. San Francisco won the game, 4-3.

Quotebook

New York Giants Coach Bill Parcells, on nose tackle Jim Burt, acknowledged as the team’s No. 1 flake: “Jim Burt runs two quarts low.”