Motta in Sacramento: The Rest of the Story

Several NBA reporters raised an eyebrow when Dick Motta was hired to coach the Sacramento Kings. Jan Hubbard of Newsday suspects an ulterior motive was involved:

“Hmmmmm. Two of the finalists for the Sacramento Kings’ job were John MacLeod and Bob Weiss. Dick Motta was hired. MacLeod is the guy who replaced Motta when Motta left the Dallas Mavericks. MacLeod coached the Mavericks to the Western Conference finals, which is further than they ever advanced during seven years under Motta.

“And Weiss, who would have been hired had Motta not accepted the job, was Motta’s assistant in Dallas for six years. But the working relationship between the two did not end on ideal terms when Weiss was hired by the San Antonio Spurs in 1986.

“So could it be possible that Motta saw two guys he either did not respect or of whom he was jealous and decided to shaft both of them by taking the Kings job?

“Ugly thoughts. And about such a nice, loyal guy.”

Trivia time: Through 1989, what high school produced the most NFL players?

Cartoons were on: Rookie guard Doug Widell of the Denver Broncos, asked about Earnest Byner’s fumble that preserved the Broncos’ 38-33 victory over the Cleveland Browns in the 1987 AFC championship game:

“I wasn’t that big of a fan of NFL football when I was in college. I watched the Super Bowls, but I get bored watching football games on television. Maybe I saw that game, but I probably fell asleep.”

Add cartoons: After the Clippers lost to the Detroit Pistons Jan. 3, center Benoit Benjamin showered, dressed and began spraying rancid-smelling cologne all over himself. Teammate Charles Smith began fanning the air and complaining. Benjamin looked at reporters and said, “Might get them out of here.”

Question of balance: The New York Knicks’ Kenny Walker started three games in place of injured Charles Oakley last week. He missed all seven of his shots in the first game but made all 10 of his free throws. In the second game, Walker was five for seven from the field but two for six from the free-throw line.

“Next game it will all come together,” Walker said.

It did. Walker was one for five from the field and one for four from the line.

Tears of a clown: Frank Layden, who quit as coach of the Utah Jazz last winter, on what he would have done differently: “I would have stopped the comic act a long time ago. I thought I had to be like Casey Stengel to take people’s minds off our bad team. But after we got good, I kept joking, and I don’t know if anyone ever took me seriously as a coach.”

Bunch of flunkies: Buddy Ryan, coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, gave print reporters an A for their reporting this season and assessed TV reporters a B-minus. Ryan said: “Radio guys, you guys are down in the Gs. That’s even below Fs.”

Trivia answer: Big Spring High in Big Spring, Tex., 11.

Quotebook: Notre Dame football Coach Lou Holtz on Bo Schembechler, new president of the Detroit Tigers: “I just love to listen to Bo talk. Maybe it’s because I don’t have much choice when we’re together.”