Someone Stole His Pads? That Really Stinks

Running back Errict Rhett of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is offering a $1,000 reward for the return of his shoulder pads, which were stolen when the team’s training camp locker room at the University of Tampa was burglarized.

Rhett said he has had the shoulder pads since he was a high school sophomore and doesn’t feel comfortable in replacements issued by the Buccaneers.

“It’s kind of scary. I’m not sure I can take a hit [in the new ones],” he said, adding he doesn’t understand why anyone else would want them because “they don’t smell too good.”

More smelly stuff: Arizona Cardinal Coach Buddy Ryan apparently isn’t a big fan of left offensive tackles Ben Coleman and Ernest Dye.

“Our left tackle doesn’t stink,” Ryan said. “He just smells bad.”

Asked whether he was talking about Coleman or Dye, Ryan replied: “Both of them.”

Trivia time: When was the only time a new champion was crowned in a world heavyweight title fight in Los Angeles?

Run, Barry, run: Shortstop Barry Larkin of the Cincinnati Reds has an interesting reason for wanting to lead the National League in stolen bases.

“My wife wants me to run more,” he said. “She doesn’t like seeing the name Quilvio Veras on top of the list.”

Before Friday’s games, Larkin had 37 steals to 36 for the Florida Marlins’ Veras.

Like father . . . : Peter McNeeley, who will be in the ring with Mike Tyson tonight in Las Vegas, is a second-generation fighter. There are some who claim he couldn’t beat his father.

“When I was knocked down in the amateurs,” McNeeley said, “Ron Borges [of the Boston Globe] wrote that I was following in my father’s footsteps.”

Tom McNeeley was knocked down 10 times in four rounds by Floyd Patterson in 1961.

The good and bad: During the summer, USC Coach John Robinson had two memorable experiences. Robinson and his wife were vacationing in Italy when they were among a group of tourists granted an audience with the Pope.

Then Robinson discovered that he had his pocket picked in the Vatican.

Long time coming: Shortstop Kevin Elster of the Philadelphia Phillies went nearly four years without a run batted in, from Sept. 30, 1991, to last Aug. 1, when he got a bases-loaded triple against the Atlanta Braves.

During that time he played with the Dodgers, New York Mets, San Diego Padres, New York Yankees, Kansas City Royals and the Phillies.

Wrong number: Coach Dennis Franchione of the University of New Mexico was elated when he heard that Sports Illustrated was on the line. He had a lot of nice things to tell SI about his Lobos.

But instead of asking Franchione to pitch his football program, it was an SI pitch man doing the selling.

“Mr. Franchione? Yes. For $42.95 . . .”

The real reason: Gainesville, Fla., was named the No. 1 city in the United States in which to live. Norm Forscher, retired motor sports editor of the Gainesville Sun, says it’s because “within easy driving distance, we have four dirt oval tracks, six asphalt ovals and three drag racing strips.”

Trivia answer: Feb. 23, 1906, when Tommy Burns decisioned Marvin Hart in 20 rounds.

Quotebook: Sam Snead, to a pupil after a lesson: “Lay off for three weeks and then quit for good.”