Atlanta Sportswriters, Please Don’t Hurt Him

Rap star Hammer sat in the press box during the Atlanta Falcons’ victory over the Seattle Seahawks last week at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium and cheered for buddy Deion Sanders. Told there was an unwritten rule of no cheering in the press box, Hammer apologized to several writers sitting nearby.

But when Sanders made his second interception, Hammer screamed with delight. Looking sheepishly at the writers, Hammer said: “Somebody’s going to have to write down that unwritten rule.”

More rap: Pitcher Jack Morris, who is from Minnesota, was warned by agent Dick Moss before signing a two-year, $10.85-million contract with Toronto that he would be called disloyal by his hometown fans, “a mercenary who’ll pitch anybody to a title for the money.” Morris replied: “I like that image.”

Add Morris: Dave Stieb, who often fought verbally with Morris when they were on opposing teams, had this to say last week about his new teammate: “Put it out there in big bold print--Stieb and Morris don’t hate each other and, from what they know of each other, everything’s fine.

“We don’t want a wimp, some guy who’s going to go out there complacent.”

Trivia time: The last time the New York Jets made the NFL playoffs before this season was after the 1986 season, when they lost to the Cleveland Browns, 23-20, in overtime. Who kicked the field goal to beat them?

The straight rap: Abdul McCullough, a two-time All-San Diego County linebacker from El Camino High in Oceanside, has narrowed his collegiate choices to UCLA and Washington State.

After he led El Camino to its third consecutive 2-A championship last weekend, McCullough was asked whether he considered staying home to play for San Diego State.

“Their idea of defense is trying to keep the score under 100,” said McCullough, who watched the Aztecs blow a 28-point lead before tying Brigham Young, 52-52, in the regular-season finale. “It’s great that they have great offensive players, but I can’t respect a program like that.”

More McCullough: He loves San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium, the site of his high school’s championship victories. “We’ve won three games here,” McCullough said. “Heck, we’ve won more games here than the Chargers.”

Bad rap: New York Jet Coach Bruce Coslet is getting used to being roasted by the tabloids, although Newsday’s Greg Logan says that Coslet can joke about it only so long before he lets off steam.

At last week’s news conference, Coslet, still smarting from the criticism of his decision to stick with injured kicker Pat Leahy in a 6-3 loss to the New England Patriots two Sundays ago, reacted to one reporter’s question by saying: “You’ll probably make me look like a doofus in the morning papers.”

Writes Logan: “The ‘Dictionary of Contemporary Slang’ defines ‘doofus’ as anyone ‘odd, strange or eccentric.’ Take your pick. Coslet certainly has his quirks, but there’s something to be said for anyone who describes himself as a doofus.”

Trivia answer: Mark Moseley, who missed a 23-yarder in overtime but connected with a 27-yarder after 17:02 to win the game.

Quotebook: Ray LeBlanc, Team USA goalie, after a 4-1 loss to Team Canada: “Who likes to lose? I don’t like to lose. I was kind of fed up with it and with them. After the game, I didn’t feel like shaking their hands. I’m sick of playing them and losing to them.”