Unfortunately, Potential Doesn’t Guarantee Success

In the October edition of Sport Magazine, Allen Barra ranks the top quarterbacks in the NFL. Steve Young of the San Francisco 49ers is ranked No. 1, and Troy Aikman of Dallas is No. 2.

Jim Everett of the Rams is ranked No. 6, ahead of Dan Marino of Miami (No. 8).

“Although Marino has been in the playoffs nearly every year, there’s every reason to believe that if their situations were reversed, Everett would have the superior numbers.

“Imagine what this guy could have done on a good team, or what he might do if Chuck Knox makes the Rams good again,” Barra wrote.

Comment: We’re waiting.

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Trivia time: Which quarterback holds the career NFL record for being sacked?

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Short story: Philadelphia Phillie outfielder Lenny Dykstra’s autobiography is entitled “Nails.” According to a former teammate, Wally Backman, it would be “four pages long without the expletives.”

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Add Phillies: John Kruk was reluctant to appear on “The Late Show With David Letterman” until CBS fulfilled his request list.

A limo picked him up at his home outside Philadelphia with three corned beef sandwiches and a six-pack of beer. Then, the limo was waiting with pizza as soon as he finished his appearance.

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Fall ritual: From Letterman: “It’s fall in New York, which means the air is filled with the smell of burning Mets season tickets.”

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Nervous time: While talking to reporters after Sunday’s final game with San Francisco, Dodger catcher Mike Piazza was suddenly taken away to make a presentation at the fan appreciation ceremonies. He was told to bring one of his uniform shirts, which would be given away as a prize.

The Dodgers don’t view giving uniforms away lightly. “Do I have to pay (for it)?,” Piazza asked. Somebody told him that he wouldn’t have to pay.

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Same old story?: Former Miami defensive lineman Mark Caesar on today’s game between undefeated Florida State and Miami:

“Their kicker is going to choke again. I can see the headline, ‘Wide Right III--The Saga Continues.’ ”

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Cultural metaphor: The New York Times reported that Michael Jordan’s retirement brought this reaction from Romanian television in Bucharest:

“Basketball without Jordan is like ballet without Maya Plisetskaya (a legendary Bolshoi ballerina).”

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Naughty word: After Notre Dame beat Stanford, 48-20, last Saturday, Irish Coach Lou Holtz was asked if the victory was revenge for Stanford’s upset victory in 1992.

“At a Christian school,” Holtz said, “you don’t talk about revenge.”

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Grand slammer: Before broadcasting his syndicated radio talk show from a station in Dayton, Ohio, Pete Rose asked:

“Isn’t Gordon Liddy on this station, too?” Told he was, Rose said: “Between the two of us, we’ve been in more jails than any two guys on radio.”

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Trivia answer: Fran Tarkenton, with 483.

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Quotebook: Lee Trevino on Michael Jordan: “If he works at it, he can be a scratch golfer in two years. If he goes on the senior tour, I want to be his caddie.”