Around Washington, Priorities Are Redskins, Everything Else

The NFL really is a life-and-death proposition to some people.

Constance Gasch, manager of a funeral home in Hyattsville, Md., recently discussed the impact of Washington Redskin home games on her business. “People will stay home and watch the game, then come in later to pay their respects,” she told the Washington Post. “And the telephone never rings during games, except for notifying us about a death. Inquiries about times for viewings almost never come when the Redskins are playing.”

Bare Crazylegs: On the 40th anniversary of the Rams’ only NFL championship, reader William Johnson of Bishop recalls the day that Elroy (Crazylegs) Hirsch said farewell to his fans after his final game in the Coliseum:

“As he was trotting to the tunnel, he was surrounded by fans. As a farewell gesture, he took off his sweat shirt and gave it to a grateful fan. This stirred the mob so he gave someone his shoulder pads. More outstretched hands. Next he took off his shoes. The strip tease continued until he stood there clothed only in jockstrap and helmet, which he would not give up.”

Trivia time: PGA champion John Daly is not a member of the U.S. Ryder Cup team, which will meet the Europeans next week. Who was the last PGA champion not on the Ryder Cup team?

Champion’s logic: Evander Holyfield told the Associated Press that he would not be disappointed if Mike Tyson’s troubles caused their title fight Nov. 8 to be postponed.

“Why should I be disappointed?” he said. “I’m the heavyweight champion of the world.”

Moving up: Baseball card dealer Rick Kohl of Boynton Beach, Fla., has sold a Joe DiMaggio Headsup Goudy card for $5,000 to an anonymous collector from Chicago. The price is believed to be the most paid for a DiMaggio card.

Kohl previously sold a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle rookie card for a record $58,000.

Different cycle: Former Pittsburgh Pirate pitcher Steve Blass once threw a four-hitter against the Chicago Cubs and Billy Williams got all four hits. In a manner of speaking, Williams hit for the cycle.

“Billy had two home runs and two doubles, but he got one hit off all four of my pitches--fastball, curve, changeup and slider,” Blass said. “It was a very democratic day for him. He hit all my pitches.”

Unhappy No. 1: Coach Bobby Bowden wasn’t all that pleased to find his Florida State team ranked No. 1 in the preseason polls again this season. It happened in 1988 and the Seminoles were blitzed by Miami in their opening game, 31-0.

“My tombstone is going to read, ‘August Coach of the Year,’ ” Bowden said.

Trivia answer: Hal Sutton, in 1983.

The way it is: George Foster, the last National League player to hit 50 home runs, paid a visit to Dodger Stadium while the Pirates were here. He is out of baseball but would like to get back in.

“You hit .320 and they say you don’t know anything about hitting,” Foster told Pittsburgh Press writer Bob Hertzel. “You hit .210 and they make you a hitting coach.”

Quotebook: Central Michigan defensive player Lamar Sally, who had three sacks in the Chippewas’ 20-3 upset of Michigan State: “This is Big Ten, Michigan State, you know. What can you do? . . . I never dreamed it would be like this.”