Mahorn or No, They Figure to Be Bad

From Peter May of the Hartford Courant: “The Minnesota Timberwolves must either be incredibly stupid or they must believe that Rick Mahorn is going to bring an NBA title to the Twin Cities.

“How else do you explain the Timberwolves turning down an offer by the Lakers for Mahorn that consisted of two No. 1’s, a No. 2 and Mark McNamara? Granted, the draft picks may not be all that great, but they are No. 1’s. And while Mahorn might not be damaged goods, he’s the next closest thing with his cranky back.

“And despite rejecting the deal, Minnesota Coach Bill Musselman said Friday that the team is willing to listen to any proposed deal, especially if a No. 1 draft pick is included.”

Add May: The Boston Celtics’ Dennis Johnson on the return of teammate Larry Bird in an exhibition Friday night: “He had that glow, that beam and those wide eyes every time he had the ball. That’s something we didn’t see last year.”

Last add May: Bill Fitch, new coach of the New Jersey Nets, on playing against Celtic Coach Jimmy Rodgers, his former assistant:

“For Jimmy, this is an entirely different game than it is for me. He’s got things he wants to look at. I’ve got things I don’t know if I want to look at, but I have to. He’s already been where I have yet to go.”

Question of loyalty: Ellen Uzelac of the Baltimore Sun quotes Bill Wolosky, a 33-year-old truck driver who lives near Oakland: “You want to know why I’m a Giants fan, lady? I’m a Giants fan because I’m from New York and the Giants are from New York. It’s something that’s handed down. San Francisco? Can’t stand the place. The only reason I go there is to go to games.”

Trivia time: When Rick Reuschel started for the San Francisco Giants in Game 2 of the World Series Sunday night, he was one day shy of 40 years, 5 months old. Only two older pitchers started World Series games; who were they?

Taking a hike: Ken Denlinger of the Washington Post on the inability of National Football League owners to select a successor to Pete Rozelle: “Maybe it’s time for the owners to plead for the old Buffalo signal-caller to return from government. Didn’t Jack Kemp take his present job because the impending scandals sounded so much like a snap count? You know: HUD-1, HUD-2, HUD-3.”

Please release me: It has been 209 days since Rozelle, who has stayed on the job awaiting selection of a successor, announced his resignation as commissioner.

Wild in the streets: They weren’t exactly dancing in the streets after Fitchburg State’s first victory in 37 games. After about 300 people gathered near the Fitchburg (Mass.) campus late Saturday night to celebrate the Falcons’ 33-7 victory over Southeastern Massachusetts, some windows were broken and a car was overturned. Five arrests were made for disorderly conduct.

But the victory might not have been the cause of the trouble. Said Fitchburg police Sgt. Ronald Hamel: “It’s really not that unusual for a Saturday night, win or lose. . . . It’s not really uncommon for hundreds of them to be walking around at 2 or 3 o’clock in the morning.”

Trivia answer: Jack Quinn, 46, Philadelphia A’s, 1929; Grover Cleveland Alexander, 41, St. Louis Cardinals, 1928.

Quotebook: San Francisco Giant left fielder Kevin Mitchell, after missing a pre-World Series workout: “Now I know what Jose Canseco has to go through.”