The Horse Stayed, So They Paid

Alan (The Horse) Ameche, the Hall of Fame running back who died Monday, was so good at Kenosha (Wis.) High School that Notre Dame asked actor Don Ameche, a distant cousin, to help recruit him by calling the high school star on their behalf.

Added pressure was applied by Fred Miller, captain of the 1928 Fighting Irish. Miller was the owner of the Miller Brewing Co.

Writes John Steadman of the Baltimore Evening Sun: “Finally, Wisconsin partisans organized a committee to keep Ameche on home turf. The threat was made that if the promising fullback went to Notre Dame, as had previously happened with another running back, Neil Worden, from Milwaukee, that a statewide demonstration would be made against the buying and consumption of Miller beer.

“The ‘game plan’ worked. Miller backed off, and Ameche went to the University of Wisconsin and became a Heisman Trophy winner after gaining 3,212 yards in four years, which represented an NCAA record at the time. His hometown honored him, presenting a palomino horse to the ‘The Horse’ and also $3,212, a sum that represented a dollar for every yard he gained in college.”

Pete Rose wasn’t kidding when he said Bo Diaz doesn’t like to walk. The Cincinnati Reds manager was quoted in this space Tuesday as saying, “Bo just likes to swing. He likes to hit the ball.”

On a 3-and-0 count Tuesday night, Diaz swung away against Don Sutton. The result was a three-run home run.

Add Rose: On this date in 1986, the 45-year-old player-manager singled four times and doubled to set a National League record with the 10th five-hit game of his career. Max Carey held the old record. The Reds still lost to the San Francisco Giants, 13-4.

Trivia Time: What do the horses Upset, Dark Star and Foolish Pleasure have in common? (Answer below.)

Wait a Minute: Wrote Phil Jackman of the Baltimore Evening Sun, in analyzing the Wayne Gretzky deal: “One of the reasons Los Angeles has never been regarded as even an average team is because the Kings have never had a player of true star quality.”

Marcel Dionne wasn’t exactly chopped liver.

Would-you-believe-it Dept.: George Vecsey of the New York Times, on Gretzky: “He is not quite perfect. The Edmonton Oilers, one of the more advanced sports organizations, give annual strength and agility tests to their athletes. Gretzky consistently finished last.”

Former New York Jets defensive back Johnny Sample, asked about the current club, told George Usher of Newsday: “They don’t look very good at all. In fact they look in disarray.

“I think maybe only Freeman McNeil and Pat Leahy could have played for us, and Mark Gastineau and Al Toon would have been reserves at best. I think Gastineau is through.”

Said Joe Namath, claiming that the club needs a new general manager: “Don Klosterman is available. They should hire him. He’s brilliant.”

Trivia Answer: In order, they were the only horses to beat Man o’ War, Native Dancer and Ruffian. Note: Ruffian, an unbeaten filly, met Foolish Pleasure in a match race and broke down.

Quotebook

Ben Johnson, asked if he could beat Carl Lewis in a match race: “There’s no match there. As soon as the gun go off, the race be over.”