Neighborhood Used to Be Neighborly

Al Davis has trouble recognizing his old neighborhood.

“I lived in Brooklyn in an area called Crown Heights,” the Raider owner told Times staff writer Steve Springer. “Across the street from where I lived was Lincoln Terrace Park. Today, it’s one of the most dangerous places in the world.

“Mike Tyson lived on the other side of the park, where it was very tough. It was called East New York Brownsville. That’s where (Lyle) Alzado came from, and a lot of tough guys. All the guys from Murder Inc.

“I lived there 50 years ago, went through that park every day and it wasn’t a dangerous park. Mike Tyson went through that park 10 years ago, and, if you got out with your life, you were lucky.

“I was telling Tyson one time that I played in that park, but he didn’t understand the time frame, and he says to Don King, ‘If he got out alive, he’s the toughest son of a bitch I’ve ever known.’ ”

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Trivia time: Who were the only two players to score at least 50 goals during an NHL season as teen-agers?

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Tight-fisted: After losing more than $8 million last year, the San Diego Padres have started an austerity campaign.

All employees received a letter informing them that they could no longer dial 411 for directory assistance because such calls were costing the club too much money.

Said one club official: “I got a phone book for Christmas.”

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Understatement dept.: Drazen Petrovic of the New Jersey Nets, who scored a career-high 44 points during a 100-83 victory over the Houston Rockets last week, once scored 112 points during a Croatian League game.

“It was not like the NBA,” Petrovic said.

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Glad that’s settled: When Bill Koch’s America 3 successfully defended the America’s Cup last May, many wondered whether the multimillionaire owner, an amateur sailor, or veteran helmsman Buddy Melges should get the most credit.

During Yachting Race Week at Key West, Fla., last month, the issue was resolved. Sort of. Competing on rival boats in the primary class, Koch finished eighth and Melges ninth.

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For what it’s worth: During 4 1/2 seasons under Coach Tom Asbury, Pepperdine has won 68.8% of its games. Under former coach Jim Harrick, the Waves won 63.3%.

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Y’all come back now, hear: Among the guests of honor at a gala ceremony in Tuscaloosa, Ala., honoring Alabama’s national champion football team was Corky Simpson, a columnist for the Tucson Citizen and the only sportswriter who picked the Crimson Tide No. 1 all year in the Associated Press poll.

Coach Gene Stallings presented Simpson with an Alabama Sugar Bowl jersey emblazoned with the number “1.”

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Trivia answer: Wayne Gretzky and Jimmy Carson.

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Quotebook: Michigan State basketball Coach Jud Heathcote, angered that the NCAA did not increase scholarship limits for the men but did so for the women: “Do you know that 78% of the NCAA’s budget comes from men’s basketball? If there isn’t an NCAA basketball tournament, then there isn’t an NCAA.”