They Didn’t Write Book on Comebacks

The Rams’ rallying from a 27-3 halftime deficit against Tampa Bay on Sunday to win, 31-27, is regarded as the third-biggest comeback in NFL history.

However, from the standpoint of time remaining, there are two other Ram comebacks that might be more significant.

In 1948, the Rams trailed the Philadelphia Eagles, 28-0, with 16 minutes to play. Bob Waterfield then threw four touchdown passes and kicked four extra points for a 28-28 tie at the Coliseum.

In 1952, the Rams trailed Green Bay, 28-6, in the fourth quarter before Waterfield rallied the Rams to a 30-28 victory in Milwaukee.

Trivia time: When did USC make its first appearance in the NCAA basketball tournament?

Paper saver: Marge Schott, the beleaguered owner of the Cincinnati Reds, has been called cheap by some of her former employees.

Roger Blaemire, the Reds’ former vice president of business operations, told People magazine that Schott not only ordered employees to use scrap paper on both sides, but also actually checked the wastebaskets to make sure that they did.

Northern exposure: From columnist Art Spander of the San Francisco Examiner: “When the San Jose Sharks have a TV rating of 0.4 (for 10,000 homes) the same weekend the 49ers have a 32.4 (for 712,000 homes) maybe hockey ought to consider trying the post pattern. Or move to Nome.”

Sack of sacks: Deacon Jones, acknowledged as the NFL’s all-time sack leader, once recalled his most satisfying sack.

It was in a game against the Falcons in Atlanta, where Jones, a Ram defensive end, who is now in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, hit Bob Berry, tearing off the quarterback’s helmet.

Later, Jones said: “If his helmet doesn’t go, his head does,” prompting some letters to The Times from irate Atlanta fans.

Lakers, take note: Larry Bird, commenting on the Boston Celtics trading Jon Barry, a first-round draft choice, to Milwaukee:

“As far as I’m concerned, (the Celtics) made him a good offer,” Bird told Alan Greenberg of the Hartford Courant. “I’ve always said, if you don’t play for the Celtics, you’re not playing pro basketball.”

SRO: If you’re thinking about applying for tickets to the NCAA Final Four in New Orleans April 3 and 5, forget it. The NCAA received about 262,000 applications, but only about 35,750 tickets were allocated to the general public.

The NCAA is estimating seating at 63,000 at the Superdome, site of the Final Four.

Trivia answer: 1940, when the Trojans were eliminated by Kansas, 43-42, in a semifinal game of the second annual NCAA tournament.

Quotebook: Coach Paul Westphal of the Phoenix Suns after defensive specialist Dan Majerle had made only one of his 12 shots in a recent defeat by Charlotte: “Maybe Majerle was guarding himself.”