Is There an Extra Man in Their Man-to-Man?

How much have the Golden State Warriors improved since last season? Coach Don Nelson recently told Martin McNeal of the Sacramento Bee that his 1989-90 team had two defenses:

“One was a small, scrambling defense, and the other was Manute (Bol, the 7-foot-7 shot blocker now with the Philadelphia 76ers).”

This year, the Warriors, second in the Pacific Division, have switched to a team defensive concept, at least if you value Michael Jordan’s opinion. In defeating the Chicago Bulls, 103-93, Thursday night, Golden State held Jordan to 14 points, his lowest output since March 14, 1987.

Said Jordan, who attempted only 12 shots and went to the free-throw line only three times: “They put four and five people on me. Even the referee was guarding me, or at least it felt something like that.”

Dinner’s getting cold: According to a recent study by Nielsen Media Research, ABC’s “Monday Night Football” is the No. 1 network series viewed outside the home among men 18 and over.

Richard Montesano, vice president of ABC Market Research, said he expects the trend “will continue to grow.”

Trivia time: Who was the first NFL quarterback to pass for more than 4,000 yards in a season?

On what planet?: From Associated Press: “When preparing for competition, cross-country runners often average 25 miles a day.”

Obstacle course: Peter Rono of Kenya, who won the Olympic 1,500 meters at Seoul in 1988, will compete for Mount St. Mary’s College of Maryland in Monday’s NCAA Division I-A Cross-Country Championships at Knoxville, Tenn.

But Rono might be less than 100% enthusiastic about competing, having been slowed by two freak injuries in Kenya last summer.

During a training run, the door of a passing milk truck swung open and struck Rono’s head. He came away with bruises.

Several days later, while driving, he swerved off the road to avoid a bull and broke his scapula. It was set and pinned improperly, and he needed another operation when he returned to the United States.

Rono, who has not won a major race since Seoul, said: “The Olympic Games are everything. People don’t remember what happens in between.”

Plummer gets the call: San Diego Charger linebacker Gary Plummer, a five-year veteran who occasionally lines up at fullback, scored his first rushing touchdown on a one-yard run in last Sunday’s 19-7 victory over the Denver Broncos.

As he tried to spike the ball, he collided with teammate Broderick Thompson, who was trying to give him a hug. In the confusion, the ball fell out of Plummer’s hand and fell to the ground.

Dennis Georgatos of Associated Press asked Plummer whether his family called to congratulate him.

Said Plummer: “Coming from a family of eight, it’s easy to stay humble. They don’t say much about the touchdown. They just say, ‘What’s wrong with you? Can’t you spike the ball?’ ”

Trivia answer: Joe Namath of the New York Jets, 4,007 yards in 1967.

Quotebook: Arkansas basketball Coach Nolan Richardson, on being described in the Arkansas media guide as possibly “the most popular man in the state”: “One thing I’ve learned is one day they’ll name a street after you, the next they’ll run you down.”