They’re Great, but That’s Not Good Enough

With Magic Johnson and Larry Bird retired, columnist Bruce Jenkins of the San Francisco Chronicle doesn’t believe any of the current NBA players will be able to sustain the league’s “runaway popularity of the 80s.” A sampling:

“Michael Jordan: Lord knows he’s got the game, but as a rather self-centered fellow with lousy priorities and a penchant for gambling.

“Karl Malone: If Magic is a master’s painting, Malone is a little piece of lint in the corner.

“Charles Barkley: Great player, and a better guy than some might think, but plays the spoiled-child role too often.”

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Trivia time: What did Shaquille O’Neal accomplish in his first NBA game that Wilt Chamberlain never did?

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NFL nomads: Greg Davis, a kicker for the Phoenix Cardinals, on lack of security: “Kickers know every job that opens up. They’re just waiting. It’s like reading the obituaries to see whose apartment you can get.”

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Blending bench: Pat Riley, coach of the New York Knicks, has seven new players on his team and is tired of hearing how it will take his team time to “blend.”

“I’m not waiting for people to blend in,” Riley said. “If you want to blend in, blend in on the bench.”

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Short-sighted: A Runner’s World story in August claimed that Japanese “rarely succeed in sports” because they are short. SportsLetter points out that Japan won 22 medals in the Summer Olympics in Barcelona, more than “taller” athletes from Britain, Italy and Canada.

Moreover, Japan’s baseball players won a silver medal, defeating the United States by scores of 7-1 and 8-3.

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Home improvement: Scott Ostler, of the San Francisco Chronicle, on the major league owners rejecting the Giants’ move to St. Petersburg, Fla.:

“The Giants are saved. The team is a fixer-upper, but with a lot of charm, and it can be saved with some TLC and RBI.”

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Hot ticket: Before Notre Dame routed Boston College last Saturday, 54-7, NBC’s Tom Hammond said: “You know this is a big game when you see a sign saying, ‘The Pope needs four tickets.’ ”

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Trivia answer: He fouled out.

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Quotebook: Rick Majerus, University of Utah basketball coach: “They talk about the economy this year. Hey, my hairline is in recession, my waistline is in inflation. Altogether, I’m in depression.”