No One Denying Rumors Now

The Wayne Gretzky deal had not yet been consummated when the latest Sporting News went to press, but the publication did have some quotes from Coach Glen Sather and owner Peter Pocklington of the Edmonton Oilers on the possibility of such a deal.

Sather: “These sort of things have been discussed for the last six or seven years. Every time it happens, I have to go through the same exercise of telling reporters it isn’t going to happen. I think I would know if we were going to trade the best hockey player in the world.”

Pocklington: “Ridiculous rumors. The guys who started those rumors are full of bull.”

Add Bumper Stickers: This one hangs in the New York Mets clubhouse: “To err is human. To blame it on someone else is more human.”

Add Mets: When Darryl Strawberry came to bat in a game against Pittsburgh, Pirate announcer John Sanders asked sidekick Steve Blass: “How would you, in this situation, try to pitch to Strawberry?”

Blass: “Well, first of all, I’m kind of old.”

Trivia Time: Who was the first woman to run the 100-yard dash in 10 seconds flat? (Answer below.)

There were a lot of disappointed people in Sweden when it was disclosed that William (the Refrigerator) Perry had been left home at a fat farm and wouldn’t play for the Chicago Bears against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday in Goteborg.

Here’s how the Fridge was advertised in one publication: “William Perry is a highly explosive package of muscle who is fast enough to qualify for a 100-meter Swedish championship sprint.”

From San Diego Padres pitcher Mark Davis, calling it a Catch-22 situation when he faces his former team, San Francisco: “I know them, but they know me. And there’s nine of them and only one of me.”

The Sporting News had this item on Brigitte Nielsen, whose engagement to Mark Gastineau of the New York Jets was announced Friday: “When she attended a scrimmage between the Jets and the Washington Redskins in Easton, Pa., she arrived in a limo that pulled up behind the Jets’ bench. Nielsen, dressed in a tank top and miniskirt, caused such a stir in the crowd of 9,000 that she had to be escorted to a private box.”

Add Sporting News: From its National Basketball Assn. column: “Walter Berry, who isn’t in good stead with Spurs management, also isn’t particularly popular with the public. He recently conducted a camp in San Antonio in which only four kids attended the first week.”

Said Denver Broncos Coach Dan Reeves, after the Raiders signed Willie Gault: “Well, they’ve got some receivers. Now let’s see if they can find somebody to throw it to them.”

Now-it-can-be-told Dept.: Said Terry Tata, explaining why he threw out Cincinnati Reds reliever John Franco for protesting a balk call at Dodger Stadium: “He told me I was full of it. Nobody says that to me, not Babe Ruth, not Lou Gehrig, not anybody.”

Said Franco: “Ruth and Gehrig probably would have punched his lights out, like I should have.”

Trivia Answer: Chi Cheng of Taiwan and Cal Poly Pomona in 1970.

Quotebook

Announcer Al Michaels, after interviewing Bobby Bonilla, switch-hitting third baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates: “He’s a better interview from the left side than the right side.”