Keeping Priorities Straight

After the San Francisco 49ers had made University of Miami defensive end Danny Stubbs their No. 1 draft choice, sports editor Mark Purdy of the San Jose Mercury News recalled a dressing-room scene in the Orange Bowl after Miami’s victory over Oklahoma for the national championship.

He said that Stubbs was one of the first to light up when they passed out victory cigars and was puffing away when university President Edward T. Foote came up, stuck out his hand and said, “I thought you played a very good game, Dan Stubbs.”

Purdy wrote: “Stubbs said, ‘Yeah, thanks,’ giving Foote a sideways glance and an even briefer handshake. Then Stubbs took another puff on the stogie and resumed his epic description of how he had kicked Oklahoma’s rear end. The honorable President Foote moved to another locker.

“As I stood there that evening in the bowels of the Orange Bowl, I remember thinking to myself that considering Stubbs’ priorities--talking football first, acknowledging the school president second--he probably would become a fine NFL player.”

Add Cigars: Last week, Norman Sharp, president of the Cigar Assn. of America, was quoted as saying, “The tradition of the victory cigar dates to the Civil War, when Gen. Ulysses Grant was given 30,000 cigars after his victory at Appomattox in 1865.”

Responds Robert L. Brigham of Manhattan Beach: “Perhaps someone should remind the Cigar Assn. of America that Grant died a slow and painful death from cancer of the throat at age 63. With victories like this, who needs defeats.”

Trivia Time: What do Kentucky Derby winners Morvich in 1922, Swaps in 1955 and Decidedly in 1962 have in common? (Answer below.)

The Dallas Mavericks Press, a publication of the National Basketball Assn. club, posed this question to the players: “If you were stranded on a desert island, who or what would you want with you?”

Said former Indiana All-American Steve Alford: “I would want to take my wife and Bobby Knight. I would also need a yacht so my wife and I could enjoy ourselves, and I could use the yacht to escape from Bobby Knight when I needed to.”

Now-it-can-be-told Department: If you ever wondered why he was called the Schnozz, this 1-paragraph story appeared in The Times 50 years ago: “A new catcher’s mask was ordered for Ernie Lombardi of the Cincinnati Reds when it was discovered that his nose protruded through the one he was using.”

Would-you-believe-it Department: When prospective spring graduates at USC picked up their caps and gowns, they found inside their caps applications for season football tickets.

Billy Martin, on Pete Rose’s 30-day suspension for pushing umpire Dave Pallone: “That’s heavy. It’s not like he ran over a kid with a car. Some guys get less time for murder.”

Add Martin: How good a manager is he? Chicago columnist Mike Royko wrote: “He drinks, snarls, lies, bullies, throws dirt on umpires, and punches out marshmallow salesmen in bars. With these leadership qualities, it’s no surprise that he’s the greatest manager in baseball.”

Trivia Answer: They are the only California-breds that have won the race.

Quotebook

John Thompson of Georgetown, on some of the criticism he has received since being named coach of the U.S. men’s Olympic basketball team: “It doesn’t bother me. The more I’m criticized, the more my speaking fee goes up.”