He Moved Up Elocutionary Ladder

Vic Fusia, onetime coach at the University of Massachusetts and a former assistant at Pittsburgh, died last week at 77.

His obituary in the Pittsburgh Press noted: “Fusia was a popular coach known for his buttoned-down shirts and an extensive vocabulary as an aide to (former Pitt Coach John) Michelosen from 1955 until he took the Massachusetts job in 1961.”

The obituary also recalled Fusia’s reflection on how his career evolved.

Said Fusia: “In high school I used to tell my players, ‘Be cocky.’ When I moved up to college coaching, I changed that to ‘Be confident.’ Now, after 12 years, I say to my boys, ‘Be more declarative in your movements.’ This, you see, is intellectual progress.”

Trivia time: During any five-season span, only one team has had three NBA rookies of the year. The seasons were 1972-73, 1973-74 and 1976-77. Name the team and the players.

Bravo!The trivia question of a bygone decade: Name the only American to win a medal in the 1980 Moscow Olympics.

You knew it was Mike Sylvester, the former Dayton guard, now 39 and in his 17th season in Italy. He is playing for the B-league team in Marsala, Sicily, after playing for several teams in the elite I-A division.

Sylvester, whose Italian grandfather emigrated to the United States, received dual citizenship in 1977 after three years in Italy.

Add Sylvester: He said that early in his Olympic experience, he encountered resistance from some teammates who thought the national team should include only full-blooded Italians.

But the criticism subsided. And Sylvester recalled: “To get up on the podium and accept a (silver) medal was a really emotional experience. I’ve never felt more Italian than at that moment.”

Wile E. Official: In Midland (Tex.) Community College’s 100-79 loss to Odessa Monday night, Coach Reggie Franklin drew a double flagrant technical. Later, Carroll Boudreaux slam-dunked after a referee blew his whistle. And Chaparral mascot Mike Burnett, who dresses as a 7-foot road runner, went too far.

In the first half, Burnett, a music performance major, performed his routine during timeouts--bowing at the officials’ feet, feigning a handshake and polishing the referee’s shoes--a la the San Diego Chicken at professional events.

Burnett told the Midland Reporter Telegram that an official ordered him as the second half was about to begin: “Don’t go out on the floor or we’ll kick your . . . out of here.”

The mascot spent the second half on the sideline, out of costume.

Now ask the bulls: Pitchers can tell you which batters give them trouble, and vice versa.

And rodeo star Dennis Morris keeps a mental “book” on the bulls he has ridden.

Said Morris: “I can remember stuff that’s happened two or three years ago with a particular bull. I remember which way he turned his head, how he swings his head, if he goes to the left or right.”

Trivia answer: The Buffalo Braves, with Bob McAdoo in 1972-73, Ernie DiGregorio in 1973-74 and Adrian Dantley in 1976-77.

Quotebook: Denver guard Chris Jackson, after the Nuggets’ recent 146-99 loss in Seattle: “It was never like this at LSU.”