Those Wildcats Are Always So Controversial

Northwestern’s return to the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day recalls the Wildcats’ first visit to Pasadena in 1949 and, perhaps, the most controversial play in the game’s colorful history.

In the second quarter against California, Northwestern fullback Art Murakowski fumbled while lunging for a touchdown from the one-yard line.

A picture in The Times showed that Murakowski’s feet were not in the end zone, but referee Jimmy Cain signaled a touchdown, ruling that Murakowski fumbled after his body crossed the goal line.

Without television’s instant replay, the decision was challenged then, as it still is today, although camera angles can be deceiving.

Murakowski’s touchdown provided the Wildcats with a 13-7 lead, and they went on to win, 20-14.

Footnote: Murakowski died in September of 1985 at the age of 60.

Trivia time: Who was California’s coach at the time?

Collector’s item?A media guide for a college women’s basketball team in Newport News, Va., was pulled after criticism of a cover photo showing players with fake military rifles over the caption “Armed and Dangerous.”

Coach Cathy Parson, who came up with the idea for the Christopher Newport University team, said the picture wasn’t meant to be offensive.

“We were illustrating being accurate at a target and scoring, nothing to do with lives or killing anything,” she said. “We use those phrases in competition: execute and shoot.”

Foolhardy: Tom Goff of the Oakland Tribune got a crazy notion to wear a Kansas City Chief shirt at Sunday’s game against the Raiders in Oakland.

He was insulted, bullied, elbowed and even hit over the head with a poster by zealous Raider fans. But he survived to comment:

“What we really need is for brain-dead Raiders fans to grow up and get a grip. They’re the most crass, oafish, conformity-minded troglodytes ever to spend a paycheck on a seat.”

Full-court press?Benoit Benjamin, now with the Milwaukee Bucks, on his underachieving reputation:

“If you guys [in the media] can do it better, why don’t you step between the lines with me? We can go one on one. We’ll see what’s really going on.”

“Air” raid: Authorities confiscated 30,000 fake Chicago Bull polo shirts in Beijing on Thursday in a raid timed to show China’s determination to fight piracy.

The shirts were seized from seven clothing stalls at a major outdoor market in central Beijing. They all bore fake trademarks of the NBA team.

Idle threat: Headline in last Sunday’s Houston Chronicle: “Redskins Beware--Cowboys Out for Revenge.”

So much for revenge. Washington upset Dallas for the second time this season, winning, 24-17.

Trivia answer: Pappy Waldorf.

Quotebook: Eddie Anderson, Raider free safety, on Marcus Allen of the Kansas City Chiefs: “He comes to play every week. He’s a pro’s pro. He’s the kind of guy you’d pay to watch play. I know I would.”