Smith or No, Sun Will Still Shine on Cub Fans

After Lee Smith was traded to the Boston Red Sox by the Chicago Cubs, Joe Gergen of Newsday wrote: “Is it little wonder that the Cubs have languished longer without a world championship than any team in the major leagues?

“At least, as they watch the pitches of Al Nipper and Calvin Schiraldi become fly balls that majestically clear the ivy-covered walls of Wrigley Field, the team’s fans can delight in the knowledge that the sun still shines on them more often than on any other such group in America.”

Add Smith: Said Seattle Mariners Manager Dick Williams: “At least, I know there will be four times when we won’t see Lee Smith--when Roger Clemens starts.”

They’re the defending world champions, but the Minnesota Twins still are looking desperately for pitching help.

How desperately?

“If a guy can throw and is breathing, then we consider him a prospect,” Manager Tom Kelly said.

For What It’s Worth: Unless the Rams win their last three games, John Robinson will endure his first losing season in his last 16 years of coaching.

As the head coach for seven years at USC and four years with the Rams and as an assistant for three years at USC and one year with the Oakland Raiders, Robinson’s teams had a 15-year record of 149-45-4. That’s an average of 10-3 a season.

Trivia Time: Which of the following quarterbacks holds the Washington Redskins’ career record for most yards passing: Sammy Baugh, Eddie LeBaron, Norm Snead, Sonny Jurgensen, Billy Kilmer, Joe Theismann, Jay Schroeder? (Answer to follow.)

Add Redskins: Dexter Manley likes the Dallas Cowboys less than just about anybody else, but he didn’t appreciate it when owner Bum Bright came out and criticized Coach Tom Landry.

“I’d like to have my cowboy boots and kick him in the butt,” Manley said. “I’d show him what real Texans are like.”

Manley is a native of Houston.

From Billy Martin, 59, explaining why he wants to manage only two more years: “Because it takes a lot out of you. It’s like a 500-pound weight taken off you after the season is over. Some people can handle it. Casey Stengel could have managed until he was 108.”

Now-it-can-be-told Dept.: Golfer Davis Love III, a former Tar Heel, told the Akron Beacon Journal: “To be honest, I went to North Carolina because I wanted to watch the basketball team play.”

It was Love, one of the game’s big hitters, who taught Michael Jordan how to play golf.

“Becoming Michael Jordan’s friend, that was one of my biggest thrills ever,” he said.

Would-you-believe-it Dept.: Tuesday night, the Chicago Bulls made 41 of 76 field-goal attempts, or 53.9%. From the free- throw line, they made 14 of 26 attempts, or 53.8%.

From Larry Holmes, claiming that Mike Tyson is being blinded by the bright lights: “Knocking somebody out, then getting in your Rolls-Royce and driving away doesn’t make you a champion. I don’t care if he fights 40 more times and makes $50 million more, he’s going to end up another Aaron Pryor or Leon Spinks unless he wakes up overnight.”

Trivia Answer: Joe Theismann.

Quotebook

Tom Lasorda, on his pitching career with the Montreal Royals of the International League: “I won 125 games and was leading in the fifth inning of five others that were snowed out.”