They’re Having a Real Jamboree in Bear Country

There will be a convention of Bryants today in Tuscaloosa, Ala., before the Alabama-Vanderbilt football game.

About 100 people will meet at the museum dedicated to Paul “Bear” Bryant, the legendary Alabama football coach. All invited were named after the late coach.

Participants will range in age from one month to 35 years.

The Paul W. Bryant Museum is located a few blocks from Bryant-Denny Stadium on, naturally, Bryant Drive.

Trivia time: Bryant scored 15 bowl victories as coach at Kentucky, Texas A&M; and Alabama. Who is the only Division I-A coach with more?

Now hear this: The Boss is putting his foot down on outside activities for pitcher Dwight Gooden. No more involvement in a movie on his life story. No more TV talk shows.

“He’s got to give that stuff up,” New York Yankee owner George Steinbrenner told the New York Post. “We’re going to clamp down on outside distractions for all of our people, not just him.”

The Boss made his proclamation on Monday. A day later Gooden lasted only two-thirds of an inning against the Detroit Tigers.

Yawners: After routing Southwestern Louisiana, 55-21, and Georgia Southern, 62-14, Florida Coach Steve Spurrier said, “Those were sort of like exhibition games helping us get ready for our conference season.”

The Gators have a bye today, then play second-ranked Tennessee next Saturday.

Vapidity in Vegas: Jay Leno on the Mike Tyson-Bruce Seldon bout: “I saw the great one. I saw the ‘Thrilla in Manila,’ great fight. ‘Rumble in the Jungle,’ remember? This one? This was the ‘Gyp on the Strip.’

“Let me tell you how phony this fight was. Even people with illegal cable hookups demanded their money back.”

Where is he now? Before Northwestern lost to Wake Forest, Wildcat linebacker Pat Fitzgerald had said about his coach, Gary Barnett, “He’ll be an icon in Chicago some day. He’ll be right up there with Ditka and Polish sausage.”

As of now, hold the sausage.

Clip and save: Cincinnati quarterback Jeff Blake on the 0-2 Bengals: “I don’t care what anybody says about us. I don’t care what anybody thinks. I know what we can do. We just need a little spark. I’m not worried. We’re going to be unstoppable.”

Trivia answer: Penn State’s Joe Paterno, with 17.

And finally: According to Bob Ryan of the Boston Globe, Reggie Miller and sister Cheryl were discussing Olympic gold medals. Reggie: “Mine is bigger than yours.” Cheryl: “No, Reggie, that’s just your ego.”