When Huskies Practice, Hand Is Quicker Than Scouts’ Eyes
Washington’s Don James, the school’s most successful football coach, doesn’t miss a trick.
Blaine Newnham of the Seattle Times reported that James worked on the shotgun formation in a Friday night practice before the season opener against Arizona State Sept. 5 at Tempe, Ariz.
The Huskies had no intention of using the shotgun.
“There might be somebody watching our practice,” James said. “If there is, we want to give them something to think about.”
Add James: There is speculation that James, who turn 60 on Dec. 31, might leave if the Huskies win a second consecutive national championship.
James, always careful, said: “I could never tell anybody my plans because once you do, you’re recruiting is ruined.”
Trivia time: What was the first all-professional baseball team?
Bon appetit : Angel Cordero, the jockey who retired after a serious injury last January, was seen at a restaurant table with a large plate of food.
Asked about it, Cordero replied: “I used to eat like a sparrow so I could ride horses. No more. Now I’m eating like a horse.”
The grand tour: The Texas Rangers’ Nolan Ryan has started games in more major league parks, 35, than any pitcher in the history of the game.
Wired: Keith Gilbertson, football coach at California, wears a headset and amplifier when he is on the sideline during a game, and he’s uncomfortable with the gear.
“I hate wearing that thing,” Gilbertson told Art Spander of the San Francisco Examiner. “The shocks from the static electricity are so bad you could start a forest fire off my nose. I change personality during game. It’s like going through (shock) therapy. That’s why I’m so mellow after a game.”
Zip your lip: Pittsburgh Steeler quarterback Neil O’Donnell was irritated when a sportswriter asked him if he “threw with the same zip” in a 17-3 loss to Green Bay on Sept. 27.
“I’m the same quarterback with the same arm,” O’Donnell answered, then added under his breath: “What a stupid question.”
Come again?Tim Layden of Newsday had this lead on the Miami-Penn State game last Saturday: UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.--How novel. Right when it looked as if the bureaucrats and politicians were going to take over college football with their polls and their bowls and their newfangled coalitions, the Miami Hurricanes went out Saturday and established who is No. 1 outdoors on a playing field. So keep your controversies and your debates. And don’t talk to me about Washington.
Earth-shaking move: After the San Diego Padres’ Class-A affiliate moved from San Bernardino to Rancho Cucamonga, a name-that-team contest drew 2,000 entries. The winner was the Quakes.
Club owner Hank Stickney said his clean-up hitter will wear the number 7.3, in reference to the Richter scale.
Amusing, perhaps, but probably not to earthquake victims.
Forget it: Doug Rader, batting coach for the Oakland Athletics, says he has no interest in managing either of the National League expansion teams.
“I’m not psychologically prepared to lose 100 games,” he said.
Trivia answer: The Cincinnati Red Stockings in 1869.
Quotebook: Jay Leno on the $42-million contract of Pittsburgh Penguin superstar Mario Lemieux: “Do you realize that’s almost $7 million per tooth?”
