His Silence Was Golden for the Bears

Joe Starkey, the University of California radio broadcaster, never has been known for his articulate touch--more for screaming “What a bonanza!” after hockey goals as play-by-play man for the California Golden Seals in the 1970s and for his near-incoherent call of “The Play,” Cal’s five-lateral kickoff return that beat Stanford in 1982.

So Starkey must have shocked his regular audience during the fourth quarter of Cal’s victory over UCLA Saturday, when he silenced himself after the two-point conversion that put the Bears ahead, 38-17. For a good 30 seconds, the crowd in Strawberry Canyon spoke volumes.

Starkey’s next words: “Outside of (operatic soprano) Kiri Te Kanawa, that’s the sweetest sound on earth.”

Trivia time: Who was the first NFL back to gain 200 yards in a game?

Height of fantasy: Minnesota Timberwolves guard Pooh Richardson recently ran an errand with Laker guard Magic Johnson, who had to drop off a payment on his $8-million home.

Hearing this, Ailene Voisin of the Atlanta Constitution asked the former UCLA star whether Magic’s financial situation motivated him to improve his own jump shot.

Said the 6-1 Richardson: “Shoot, he ain’t even got no ‘J’. It makes me want to work on being 6-9.”

Add Voisin: In a recent NBA training camp update, the former Clipper beat writer for the Herald Examiner summarized the team’s outlook: “Rookies Loy Vaught and Bo Kimble join one of the most talented young teams in the league. The Clippers have adhered to their youth movement and begin the season with Benoit Benjamin as the alleged leader.”

She’s there for him: Green Bay Packer center James Campen recently credited his good showing in his first year as a starter to a photograph of his wife Charlene.

Said Campen: “It’s one of those 50-cent deals. I put it in my shoe. Sometimes, I’ll tape it on my wrist. But I’m going to have to get another picture. This one is getting pretty sad. I don’t think it’ll make the whole season.”

Otherwise, a stand-up guy: From Wallace Matthews of Newsday, writing about the no-nonsense style of Evander Holyfield, who challenges Buster Douglas for the world heavyweight championship Thursday:

“Evander Holyfield was not put on this earth to play around. A smile creases his face about as often as Halley’s Comet makes a pass. Two good rules of thumb: Don’t ask Henny Youngman how to throw a left hook, and don’t ask Evander Holyfield if he’s heard any good ones lately.”

Sheer fabrication: Earlier this month, Cleveland Brown Vice President Ernie Accorsi read an article in The National by Chris Mortensen, who wrote, “There’s a feeling, more than a whisper” that Brown Coach Bud Carson soon would be fired.

Accorsi told Ed Meyer of the Akron Beacon-Journal: “There isn’t a thread of accuracy to it.”

Altered states: Billy Joe DuPree, the former Michigan State and Dallas Cowboy tight end, was recently inducted into the Blue-Gray Game Hall of Fame.

DuPree played in the 1972 Blue-Gray Game, but when asked to recall his performance, he said: “I had a pretty good game. I don’t really remember if I played on the North or the South, but I think it was the North.”

Trivia answer: Cliff Battles, who gained 215 yards for the Boston Redskins in a 21-20 victory over the New York Giants on Oct. 8, 1933.

Quotebook: Arizona Coach Dick Tomey, on using two quarterbacks, sophomore George Malauulu and senior Ron Veal: “I think the only time you’re not comfortable with two guys is if neither one of them is any good.”