After More Than 20 Years, Somebody’s Memory Is Hazy

International Boxing Federation heavyweight champion George Foreman has many adoring fans, but former trainer-manager Dick Sadler is hardly one of them.

Sadler, now 80 and living in Hayward, Calif., called Foreman a “dirty bum” over claims in Foreman’s new book, “By George,” including one accusing Sadler of asking for $25,000 to bribe referee Zack Clayton before Foreman’s 1974 match with Muhammad Ali in the famous rope-a-dope fight in Zaire.

“I thought we were covered,” wrote Foreman. “Dick Sadler came to me for $25,000 to slip the referee under the table. I asked why. ‘Because,’ he said, ‘you’ve got a habit of hitting people when they’re down. I want to make sure he doesn’t disqualify you.’ I gave him the money because that’s how the game was played.”

Foreman said he doesn’t know if Clayton received the money, but Sadler was emphatic about it.

“He’s lying, and God and he knows it,” said Sadler, taking a jab at the ministerial Foreman.

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Add jabs: Foreman’s other allegations against Sadler:

--Sadler dehydrated him.

--Sadler’s fight-night instructions contradicted his usual advice.

--Herbert Muhammad, Ali’s manager, told Foreman that if he re-signed with Sadler, he’d get a rematch. Foreman said he refused.

Sadler’s reply to all of this?

“That boy whupped his (butt) because of his stupidity.”

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Trivia time: Pitcher Mike Marshall saved 21 games for the Dodgers in 1974, but what was his career high for games saved during a season and for what team?

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Remember the Alamo? Laker fans visiting San Antonio for the playoffs are not likely to forget they’re in the Alamo City. There are 472 businesses named Alamo in the San Antonio telephone book.

The listings, which take up five pages, include just about all the basics: Alamo Bail Bonds, Alamo Bathtub Refinishing, Alamo Document Shredders, Alamo Tire Shredders, Alamo Escort Service and, of course, the Alamo Funeral Home.

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Say who? NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue might be one of the bigger names in sports, but the people who work at the stadium entrances don’t seem to know that, or care.

“I’ve got a league card that guarantees me access to every stadium in the country and I haven’t gotten into one stadium using that card,” Tagliabue said. “I talked to a guy in the Meadowlands who thought it was forged.”

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How’s that again? Joe Theismann, during an NFL broadcast on the draft: “He’ll take your head off at the blink of a hat.”

Or, one supposes, at the drop of an eye.

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You just never know: San Francisco Giant pitcher Mark Portugal was riding the stationary bike in the clubhouse when the seat dropped seven inches and Portugal hurt his back.

“From now on, I either have to get training wheels or adult supervision,” he said.

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Trivia answer: Thirty-two saves in 1979 for the Minnesota Twins.

Quotebook: Maria Bottone on her finances as she trains for the U.S. Olympic fencing team: “There’s always too much month at the end of the money.”