He Was Bit Pushy in Middle

Coach Wes Unseld of the Washington Bullets, after being named to the Basketball Hall of Fame, admitted to Ken Denlinger of the Washington Post that he used roughhouse tactics as a player and had this to say when asked how the tactics worked against other centers:

--Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: “He either got mad or scored 45 points.”

--Wilt Chamberlain: “I was scared to death about Wilt’s reaction. I think if he reacted (violently) he could kill you. He was so dominant.”

--Bill Russell: “I could move him around more than some guys. By the time I got to him he was an old man.”

The toughest he faced? Would you believe Tom Boerwinkle?

“I liked to beat up on people, but Tom didn’t seem to understand that,” said Unseld of the ponderous 6-11 center who played for the Chicago Bulls. “I could never get a reaction out of him. I don’t think it bothered him.”

Dept. of Irony: After Washington tied its playoff series with Detroit at 2-2, Moses Malone of the Bullets said: “Now it’s down to a one-game series, like an NCAA game.”

The irony, of course, is that Malone never played in an National Collegiate Athletic Assn. game. He went straight to the pros out of high school in Petersburg, Va.

Trivia Time: In the last 10 years, which is the only team to make the National Basketball Assn. playoffs every year, and which team has missed every year? (Answer below.)

Expanding on Tuesday’s trivia item on combined no-hitters, Richard A. Sherer of Bellflower and other readers have sent in a number of additions, including the famous Babe Ruth-Ernie Shore “perfect” game on June 23, 1917.

Ruth, starting for Boston against Washington, walked leadoff batter Ray Morgan and then was ejected for disputing the call of umpire Brick Owens. Ruth was replaced by Shore. Morgan was caught stealing, and Shore pitched a perfect game the rest of the way as the Red Sox won, 4-0.

Mark Gastineau of the New York Jets said he might go to Italy and do a part in the film on which Brigitte Nielsen, his girlfriend, is working.

Said Greg Logan of Newsday: “Some have said that if his pass-rushing performance isn’t up to Academy Award standards this season, the Jets might say, ‘Arrivederci, Marco.’ ”

Said Gastineau: “If I can’t play like I know I can play, I don’t expect any free rides. I’m very happy with what the Jets have done for me, but as far as a free ride (goes), if I don’t play, it’s ’88 and out the gate.”

Arvidas Sabonis, the 7-foot 3-inch Soviet center drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers, said he’s not sure he’s strong enough to play in the NBA, but in tests last week in Portland, he broke several club strength records, including those held by Kermit Washington and Kevin Duckworth.

Add Sabonis: Asked the player he was “most afraid of,” he named Ralph Sampson. He was 17 when he faced Sampson. He’s now 23.

Asked about David Robinson, a possible opponent in the Olympic Games, he said, “It was definitely not difficult to play against him. He’s a good player, but it wasn’t difficult.”

Trivia Answer: The Lakers and the Clippers.

Quotebook

Volleyball star Steve Timmons, on what he would like to improve on most between now and the Olympic Games: “My driving time from San Diego to Los Angeles.”