He Makes ‘Em Eat Their Words

When Tom Lasorda and his Dodgers reached City Hall on Dodger Day Monday, the manager of the World Series champions was in mid-winter form.

With 70,000 fans on whom to try out his one-liners for the off-season banquet circuit, Lasorda got in his digs at the vanquished New York Mets and Oakland Athletics.

But Lasorda saved his best shots for the Dodgers’ rivals in the National League West.

“(Cincinnati Manager) Pete Rose said, ‘I’m not worried about the Dodgers. I’m worried about San Francisco and Houston,’ ” Lasorda said. “He was right. Because when we went 8 games above (the Reds), they were tied with San Francisco and Houston.

“(San Francisco Manager) Roger Craig said, ‘I promise the Giants’ fans that we will be in the World Series.’ He was right. He was there--watching us play.

“(Recently fired Houston Manager) Hal Lanier said, ‘We can beat the Dodgers. If we don’t beat them, I shouldn’t be working here.’ He’s right. He’s no longer working.”

Trivia Time: Which quarterback set the Raiders’ single-game passing record 24 years ago today?

After Saturday’s 41-13 loss to Notre Dame, Air Force Coach Fisher DeBerry said his team has difficulty competing with the Fighting Irish because of the size difference.

“Some guys they’re recruiting, it would be hard to fit in F-16s,” DeBerry said. “That’s what we’re recruiting.

“It was obvious a lot of times Notre Dame’s size and strength took its toll on our team. There are not many NFL teams bigger than Notre Dame.”

DeBerry didn’t complain when Air Force beat the Irish 4 straight times from 1982-85.

Race driver Chuck Kendall, 44, is the father of 3-time GTU champion Tom Kendall, 22, of La Canada, who won for the 6th time in 11 races this season Sunday in the Camel Grand Prix of Southern California at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.

“But it’s not your typical father-son race driving relationship,” the younger Kendall said. “It’s more like son-father. He got into it after I did.”

Add Tom Kendall: He’s a senior at UCLA, majoring in economics, but because of his racing schedule, he hasn’t seen many football games.

“I was the first No. 1 on campus,” Kendall said. “But I’m still not as recognizable on campus as, say, Troy Aikman.”

San Antonio Memorial High School in Texas has lost 47 consecutive games, the longest losing streak in high school football, and apparently it isn’t because the players have been devoting too much time to studies.

After grades were released for the last semester, 15 of the 22 starters were academically ineligible.

Trivia Answer: Cotton Davidson passed for 427 yards in a 40-7 rout of the Denver Broncos.

Quotebook

Tom Lasorda, greeting Oakland Athletics right fielder Jose Canseco during a workout before the World Series: “Jose, I just want you to know that if we can’t win this thing, I hope you guys do.”