Even in the Final Outcome, K.C. Jones Still Has an Income

K.C. Jones spent 14 years in Boston as either a player or a coach for the Celtics, but Boston Globe columnist Bob Ryan didn’t express much sympathy when Jones was fired as coach of the Seattle SuperSonics--and not only because Jones is owed nearly $2 million over the next four years.

“What (General Manager Bob) Whitsitt did was furlough K.C. to do what he does best: Relax on a guaranteed income,” Ryan wrote. “K.C. was fired because the Sonics needed a coach, not a cruise director. . . . K.C. is a warm, witty, charming guy you’d love to have as a next-door neighbor. But let’s just say he is not a workaholic.”

But he can stand up: From Cardinal Manager Joe Torre on playing Pedro Guerrero in left field for St. Louis: “His only limitation is his ability to move around.”

Trivia time: How many major league managers have been fired since the New York Mets canned Davey Johnson during the 1990 season?

Injury prone: At 33, Jeff Ruland is trying to make a comeback with the Philadelphia 76ers after being retired for five years because of an injured left knee. So far, Ruland’s knee has held up fine, but he injured his back when he fell in a game at Chicago. Then, as he was boarding a bus in Boston, a runaway baggage cart struck his Achilles’ tendon.

Said Ruland, after stepping on a television cord and spraining his ankle against the Clippers: “The knee’s pretty good compared to everything else.”

What a shock: Oakland Athletic Vice President Sandy Alderson said what surprised him when second baseman Mike Gallego signed a three-year, $5.1-million contract with the New York Yankees was that Gallego “opted to take money in lieu of a starting job.” Sandy, Sandy, Sandy.

Turf and surf: Washington Redskin players dined on steak and lobster during their charter flight from Washington to Minnesota for Super Bowl XXVI.

Time outzzzz: How do we know that Coach Pat Riley of the New York Knicks is still wound tight? He said he was so distraught after losing a game to the Cleveland Cavaliers last week that he had to take pills to fall asleep.

What’s par? Ted Davis, the radio voice of the Dallas Mavericks, had seen enough of the team’s poor shooting. “This team couldn’t throw a golf ball through a hula hoop at 2 feet,” he said.

Razor’s edge: Razor Ruddock is working with his ninth trainer since turning pro. Now it’s former heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson.

Film critic: For what it’s worth, Monica Seles picks “Boyz ‘N the Hood” as the Academy Award winner for best picture.

Trivia answer: 17.

Quotebook: From St. John’s Coach Lou Carnesecca, after a 15-point loss to Seton Hall, explaining where he would start in trying to make his players competitive again: “This is a ball.”