A Couple of Jabs Settle the Question

Promoter Bob Arum, amused by the talk of a Tony Mandarich-Mike Tyson showdown, told the Pittsburgh Press that Jim Brown once thought he was ready to challenge for the heavyweight title.

Arum said that he and Brown, a good friend, were in London for the Muhammad Ali-Henry Cooper fight when Brown mentioned that he wanted to take on Ali.

The message was relayed to Ali.

Arum: “Ali asked us to meet him in Hyde Park, and when we did, he stuck out his chin and told Jimmy to hit him with everything he had. Jimmy reared back and Ali started slapping him, bap-bap-bap, using his open hand. Jimmy never saw any of it.

“That was the end of that.”

What, me worry?: From the Sporting News: New England Patriots tight end Russ Francis was arrested July 2 in Incline Village, Nev., after allegedly driving his motorcycle 58 m.p.h. in a 45-m.p.h. zone. Francis was charged with drunk driving, failure to wear a helmet, driving an unregistered vehicle, failure to have proof of insurance, driving with an expired license and carrying a handgun.

Said Patriot Coach Raymond Berry: “He told me not to worry about it and that it was no big deal at all.”

Add Sporting News: Dave Nightingale, on the second-round loss of Gabriela Sabatini at Wimbledon: “The London tabloids blamed the loss on the presence of Gaby’s scorned Italian boyfriend, who appeared, uninvited, at her London hotel, where he plaintively pleaded his case, to no avail.”

Trivia time: On Thursday night’s Dodger-Cardinal telecast, what did ABC analyst Joe Morgan mean when he said that Alfredo Griffin was batting below the Mendoza Line last year?

Air Walsh: Bill Walsh, coach turned broadcaster, explained once why he favored a passing offense: “Our turnovers are downfield, theirs are at the line of scrimmage.”

Add Walsh: He said the reason he joined NBC was that he needed a new challenge. According to wire reports, the money isn’t bad either. He reportedly signed for $750,000 a year, about twice his salary as a San Francisco 49ers vice president.

Big cat?: From Baltimore Orioles scout Ed Farmer, marveling at the strength of 165-pound Junior Felix, rookie outfielder for the Toronto Blue Jays: “If he’s Junior Felix, I’d love to see Senior Felix.”

A joiner: Said Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Benny Distefano, when asked the craziest thing he ever did: “Taking part in a student protest against the government while playing winter ball in Venezuela. I didn’t even know what I was protesting against.”

Trivia answer: Mario Mendoza, an infielder who broke in with Pittsburgh in 1974, had a nine-year hitting average of .215. In the Sunday averages, ballplayers would look for his name and check the figures in his line. Nobody wanted to be below the line.

Quotebook: Chi Chi Rodriguez, senior golfer, on diet: “Billy Casper eats all this weird stuff. I eat steak every day. They say red meat is bad for you, but I never saw a sick-looking tiger.”