Surliness Was His Signature for Young Fans

Author Roger Kahn, in his latest book, “Games We Used to Play,” describes Joe Namath’s behavior at a 1969 New York luncheon, when Sport magazine presented the Jet quarterback with a car for being voted the Super Bowl MVP.

Kahn writes: “Namath felt he was going to lunch too cheaply. He scowled from the dais at Leone’s except when nibbling a model’s ear, which he had confused with the tortoni. His demeanor put off sportswriters until one grabbed a child and said: ‘Sign for this youngster, Joe, and how’s your arm?’

“Namath signed and growled.

“Twenty minutes later, another reporter was smitten with the same idea. He approached the guest of honor with the boy.

“ ‘Get him away from me--I’ve signed for this kid already!’ Namath shouted. He interpolated an obscenity before the word kid.

“I believe I’d object as strongly to that behavior even if the child had not been my older son, who was 11.”

Trivia time: Who is the only player to hit more than 50 home runs and strike out fewer than 50 times during one season?

Strange range: Golden State made 58.3% of its three-point shots, 54.9% of its two-point shots and 52.4% of its free throws in beating Sacramento on Monday, 118-98.

Vintage Wagner: Ron Oser of Philadelphia, on why the Honus Wagner baseball card he bought at auction cost him only $220,000 when Los Angeles King owner Bruce McNall and his star player, Wayne Gretzky, paid $451,000 for one last year:

“The card I bought shows wear. There are 40 Wagner cards out there, and the one McNall and Gretzky bought is in virtually perfect condition. Mine has rounded corners. Their corners are razor-sharp.”

Offensive terms: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette columnist Peter Leo, in the spirit of the Portland Oregonian’s announcement that it would no longer publish Indian nicknames for teams, writes that if he had his way, his paper would never use any of the following offensive terms:

--The New York Mets.

--Congress.

--Roseanne Barr Arnold.

--Madonna.

--Anything about baseball salaries.

--Geraldo.

--The luge.

Just asking: Mark Siwek of Park Ridge, Ill., recently wrote this letter to the Chicago Sun-Times, about Mark Grace’s new contract with the Cubs:

“News Item: Mark Grace signs one-year contract with the Cubs, worth $2.3 million.

“Why?

“Did he hit .300? No. Last year, he hit .273--seventh among National League first basemen with 100 games played.

“Did he hit home runs? No. Last year he hit eight--10th among NL first basemen.

“Did he drive in runs? No. Last year he had 58 RBIs--eighth among NL first basemen.

“Did he steal bases? No. Last year he had three stolen bases--10th among NL first basemen.

“Did he win a Gold Glove? No. Will Clark did.

“So, what did Grace do to deserve $2.3 million?”

Trivia answer: Johnny Mize, who hit 51 homers and struck out 42 times in 1947.

Quotebook: Bob Uecker, on one of the many times he was cut by a baseball team: “They broke it to me gently. The manager came up to me before a game and told me they didn’t allow visitors in the clubhouse.”