Notre Dame Center Not Too Sad That Holtz Took a Hike

In an interview with Teddy Greenstein of the Chicago Tribune, Notre Dame center Rick Kaczenski commented on Lou Holtz’s conservative coaching style and how it affected quarterback Ron Powlus:

“A lot of times Ronnie didn’t want to take chances of making a big [passing] play. He said if he didn’t make it, he would be in deep trouble.

“We sit around and talk about it. Coach Holtz played not to lose. He had no killer instinct.”

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Trivia time: Who holds the NBA record for the most shots taken in a game without making one?

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St. Louis spa: Cardinal Manager Tony La Russa said he plans to use Delino DeShields as a leadoff hitter, even though DeShields hit .224 with a .288 on-base percentage for the Dodgers last season.

“We think a change of scenery and health is going to energize Delino,” La Russa said.

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Window closed: Seattle SuperSonic Coach George Karl, on his statement of a few years ago that his team had a two- to three-year window in which to win an NBA title:

“When I said that, Michael Jordan wasn’t playing.”

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Nostalgia: A memorabilia auction of USC-related pictures and items will be held at Julie’s restaurant near the USC campus at 11 a.m. on Saturday.

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Low priority: Mike Milbury, New York Islander general manager and coach, on communicating with former team owner John Pickett:

“I tried reaching him shortly after I was hired. His servant put me on hold for 15 minutes and I hung up.”

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Golf jungle: Lee Trevino commenting on the rough at Royal Birkdale, site of the 1983 British Open: “At 15, we put down my bag to hunt for a ball. Found the ball, lost the bag.”

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Cultural comparison: Grant Long of the Detroit Pistons, who had 12 points and 11 rebounds in a game after losing his goggles, on whether he’d play without them again: “No way. I felt like van Gogh without his ear.”

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But you’re no Tom Cruise: “Jerry Maguire,” the movie about sports agents, is on several lists of the year’s best films.

But how do real agents feel about it?

David Falk, Jordan’s agent, concedes the movie is entertaining, but adds, “like an overtime game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Jets, it was too long, without enough stars and had a questionable game plan.”

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Looking back: On this day in 1908, Jack Johnson became the first African-American boxer to win the world heavyweight title with a 14th-round knockout of Tommy Burns in Sydney, Australia.

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Trivia answer: Tim Hardaway of Golden State, 17 against San Antonio in an overtime game on Dec. 27, 1991.

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And finally: Islander right wing Dan Plante on Czech teammate Zigmund Palffy:

“You look at him off the ice, he could be some Euro punk walking around New York. He still has a little fat.

“It’s amazing. The guy has no muscle tone at all. But when it comes to playing hockey, the guy is unbelievable.”