The Training Wheels Fall Off of Quarterback’s Bandwagon

Quarterback Jeff Hostetler of the New York Giants, who lost his job to Phil Simms, was watching a Pop Warner football game near his home in Hillsdale, N.J.

As he walked closer to the action, a group of boys on the sideline recognized Hostetler, according to Bob Glauber of Newsday.

“Hey, Hostetler,” the boys called to him. “You stink.”

Trivia time: What does Raider owner Al Davis have in common with Washington Redskin Coach Joe Gibbs?

Wait a minute: When USC plays Washington in Seattle on Saturday, three of the fastest athletes of all time will be on the field, if you are to believe Sports Illustrated and the USC media guide.

Sports Illustrated reported that Husky tailbacks Napoleon Kaufman and Beno Bryant have been timed in 4.22 seconds and 4.29, respectively, in the football 40-yard dash. USC reports that Curtis Conway has run the 40 in 4.25.

They all are former state high school sprint champions, but Bob Hayes once told The Times that he never ran the 40 faster than 4.3 seconds. Hayes was the world record-holder and Olympic champion at 100 meters.

Be patient: The Dodgers, who will finish in last place in the National League West, acknowledged their difficulties and thanked fans for support in six languages on Monday.

Advertisements were purchased in 14 English-language newspapers, two Korean, one Spanish, one Japanese, one Chinese and two Thai.

Cheer, cheer: Former Notre Dame quarterback Joe Theismann of ESPN on Notre Dame quarterback Rick Mirer: “He’s the most talented thrower to come out of college football in 10 years. No one is even close.”

Creative tension: Jose Canseco told the Dallas Morning News that he is enjoying the relaxed atmosphere of the Texas Rangers and is more comfortable.

“At Oakland, there’s a win-win-win attitude, but even when they win, nobody relaxes,” he said. “There’s so much tension there you can cut it with a knife.”

Chess brat: From Blackie Sherrod of the Dallas Morning News: “If chess were a commercial sport, Bobby Fischer would make John McEnroe seem like Arthur Ashe.”

Swinging door: Cincinnati pitcher Norm Charlton has criticized owner Marge Schott for making disparaging remarks about the players to their wives.

“Where do you get this baloney?” Schott told the Cincinnati Post. “If they play a lousy game, I might say to the wives, ‘Get on them.’ That’s about it. If they don’t like it, they can get out.”

Alarming: Kerry Glenn, a special-teams player for the Miami Dolphins, has an unusual alarm on his four-wheel-drive vehicle. When set off, it gives this musical message: “Yo, I know you want to see inside, but I suggest you step aside. . . . I don’t want to sound mean, but you better leave the scene.”

Trivia answer: They are former assistant football coaches at USC.

Quotebook: Senior tour golfer George Archer: “One thing about golf is that you don’t know why you play bad and why you play good.”