Foreman May Pack Bigger Punch in Ads

Picture George Foreman. Would you buy a cheeseburger from this man? A two-ton pickup, perhaps?

According to Norman Brokaw, chairman and chief operating officer of the William Morris Agency, don’t be surprised if Foreman, 42, is a big success as a product pitchman in his post-boxing career, should there ever be one. Chances are it will begin Friday night after Foreman’s heavyweight title fight against Evander Holyfield.

“I would have to say that when he hangs up his gloves, there will be some significant interest in Foreman, probably in merchandise,” Brokaw said.

Brokaw’s clients have included Olympic swimming star Mark Spitz and home run record-holder Henry Aaron.

“Foreman was a hero of the Olympics and seems to have shown a lot of spirit,” Brokaw said. “Patriotism is very big right now.”

Of course, so is Foreman.

Add Foreman: On his diet: “I’m so serious that I’ve only had three or four scoops of ice cream since I started training.

“If I didn’t train, I don’t know how big I’d be. I’d eat only one meal a day. But it would take me all day to eat it.”

His trainer: Why Archie Moore? “He’s the only person I could find who is older than me.”

His robe: Any one that “fits over me.”

Trivia time: How much were Masters badges, good for admittance to Augusta National, selling for during the golf tournament?

Password: When New Jersey Net Coach Bill Fitch won his 800th game in the NBA recently, it brought to mind his first season as coach of the hapless Cleveland Cavaliers in 1970. Fitch was a rookie NBA coach with the first-year Cavaliers, who were 0-15 to start the season.

No. 15 in the streak occurred at the Cow Palace in San Francisco. When Fitch arrived at the entrance to the arena long before game time, he discovered he had left his NBA pass in his hotel room. He would have to talk his way in.

Fitch to security guard: “I’m the coach of the Cavaliers.”

Security guard: “How do I know that?”

Fitch: “Hey, is there anybody else in this country who would admit to being the coach of the Cavaliers?”

Fitch walked in without another word being said.

Dribble update: One of the most potent images from the NCAA basketball tournament captured by CBS was Connecticut center Rod Sellers lying atop Duke’s Christian Laettner and deliberately bouncing Laettner’s head on the floor. What you may not know is that Sellers later wrote a letter of apology to Blue Devil Coach Mike Krzyzewski.

Sellers said his emotions had gotten out of control, but explained that Laettner had elbowed him in the face a minute before the incident. Sellers wrongly figured no one was watching him when he dribbled Laettner’s head. “I knew nobody was looking,” Sellers said. “I was just going to give him a little shove, but I got him on his back and I just lost all control.”

Trivia answer: As much as $2,400.

Quotebook: Jack McDowell of the Chicago White Sox on opening-day starting assignments: “Being the opening-day pitcher may just mean you’re the best on the team, even if the team stinks.”