Sure, the Bills Are Tough, but He’s Sentimental

Greg Logan of Newsday picked the San Francisco 49ers to repeat as National Football Conference champions. Logan’s analysis of the stretch drive in the American Football Conference and of the postseason:

“East--Buffalo has a rugged schedule, but the Bills’ defense and quarterback Jim Kelly are up to it. Week 15 may provide a Super Bowl preview when the Bills visit the 49ers.

“Central--Bud Carson’s Cleveland Browns have the No. 1 defense against scoring in the NFL, and they have fashioned an adequate running game with the emergence of rookie running back Eric Metcalf.

“West--The Broncos all but clinched it with a victory over the Kansas City Chiefs for a three-game lead. They will be tough if they earn the home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, especially since former Raider Coach Mike Shanahan is working with quarterback John Elway again.

“Wild-card--The second-place finisher between the Browns and Oilers in the AFC Central will get one spot. The Miami Dolphins have the inside track for the other but might stumble in two games with the Chiefs. If that happens, the Bengals or Raiders could sneak in.

“AFC playoffs--The Bills are the best all-round AFC team, but the sentimental choice, the Browns, will pull off a couple of playoff upsets to reach New Orleans.

“Super Bowl--The preseason choice here hasn’t changed: 49ers.”

Legacy of joy: During a “Celebration of Bart Giamatti in Baseball” last Wednesday at Carnegie Hall, the son of the late commissioner recalled a conversation they had during a New York Yankees-Boston Red Sox game in the Bronx last summer.

Said Marcus Giamatti, 28: “He pointed out to the field and said, ‘You see, Marcus, this is the last pure place where Americans can dream. This is the last great arena, the last green arena, where everybody can learn the lessons of life.’

“The game of baseball finally had become his greatest teaching tool. He saw baseball as a metaphor. He wanted us to follow the traditional values of the game and strive to be the best that we could be.”

Trivia time: The Citadel and Virginia Military Institute football teams play for the Silver Shako. Which teams play for the Shinny-Ninny?

More than a fan: The Kings’ Wayne Gretzky told the Toronto Sun that he is a member of a group of investors trying to bring an NBA franchise to Toronto. “I was approached through a friend who’s working on it,” Gretzky said. “I’m a sports fan. I think the NBA would be great for Toronto. I hope it all works for the best.”

It’s the pits: Pro football is becoming popular in China, where it is called “olive ball.” Perhaps the violence of the game appeals to the Chinese; the Chinese phrase for a touchdown translates as “to overrun an opponent’s position.”

Trivia answer: Tennessee Tech and Middle Tennessee.

Quotebook: UCLA basketball Coach Jim Harrick, told that Athletes in Action Coach Dave Lower had likened the Bruins to highly regarded Louisiana State and Georgetown: “If he wasn’t a church guy, I’d say he’s on something.”