He’s a Sad Sack, Dancing Alone

When Mark Gastineau of the New York Jets recorded his first non-strike sack of the season last Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals, he couldn’t celebrate on the field because there’s a rule against such demonstrations. It’s known as the Gastineau Rule.

That didn’t stop him, though.

“Coming back from the game,” he told the New York Times, “I was in the car by myself yelling and screaming. I did the sack dance in the car all the way home. It was one of the most exciting feelings I’ve ever had.”

Did he get some strange looks from other drivers?

“No,” he said. “People probably thought I was just another New York driver.”

Tony Kornheiser of the Washington Post, on Don Zimmer being hired by the Chicago Cubs to his fourth managerial post: “You talk about being recycled. Zimmer is the aluminum can of managing.”

Fancy-meeting-you-here Dept.: In high school, John Elway of Granada Hills and Tom Ramsey of neighboring Kennedy started a quarterback rivalry that continued when Elway went to Stanford and Ramsey to UCLA. Sunday, they’ll square off again when Elway and the Denver Broncos face Ramsey and the New England Patriots.

Ramsey threw for 402 yards last Sunday, best of the day. He and Elway were among five Southland products to pass for more than 300 yards. The others were Houston’s Warren Moon (Hamilton), Washington’s Jay Schroeder (Palisades) and Philadelphia’s Randall Cunningham (Santa Barbara).

Ramsey and Schroeder, who were teammates at UCLA, totaled 733 yards. Have any college teammates ever done better?

Add Elway: Said NFL quarterback guru Sid Gillman after Denver’s 31-17 win over San Diego last Sunday: “Without a doubt, John Elway can beat you more ways than any quarterback who ever lived.”

Said San Diego cornerback Elvis Patterson: “You might as well put a cape on him.”

Trivia Time: Name the four defensive linemen on the Steel Curtain defense of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1970s. (Answer below.)

Would-you-believe-it Dept.: San Diego resident Alan Trammell of the Detroit Tigers and Tony Gwynn of the San Diego Padres are flying 3,000 miles to watch the Lakers play the Boston Celtics next Friday night at Boston Garden.

“I’m a sports nut and it’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” Trammell told the Boston Globe. “I’ve never seen a game in Boston Garden.”

Add Gwynn: Boston’s Danny Ainge remembers playing basketball against him when Gwynn was at San Diego State and Ainge at Brigham Young.

“He was a good player,” Ainge said. “He was a guard and could do just about everything. I don’t think he could have played in the NBA, but he was good.”

From Frank Gansz, coach of the Kansas City Chiefs (2-9): “When Bill Kenney is on his game, we’re going to move the ball.”

He didn’t say which way.

Trivia Answer: L.C. Greenwood and Dwight White at ends and Mean Joe Greene and Ernie Holmes at tackles.

Quotebook

Manute Bol of the Washington Bullets, on teammate Tyrone Bogues: “Just because somebody is small doesn’t mean he can’t play in the NBA. He’s 5 feet 3 inches. That’s tall enough. Four feet, that would be too small.”