To ‘Prime Time’ and ‘Neon Deion,’ Add ‘Mr. Humble’

He is known as “Neon Deion” and “Prime Time” while playing for the Dallas Cowboys. Nonetheless, football-flashy Deion Sanders has earned the respect of his teammates and Manager Ray Knight of the Cincinnati Reds.

“I don’t consider him a hot-dog,” Knight told Baseball Weekly. “I call him an entertainer. He electrifies people, especially his teammates. He is a special human being. He is so humble one-on-one and so real about life.”

Sanders’ football speed has been well documented and Knight put it into perspective for baseball.

“Whoever bats behind Deion is going to see a lot of fastballs,” Knight said. “If not, [Sanders] is going to be standing on third base after two pitches.”

Trivia time: Who holds the major league record for runs batted in by a rookie in a season?

Sleepless in Seattle: George Karl has been a successful coach with the Seattle SuperSonics, but in a league dominated by the Chicago Bulls, an NBA championship has always been out of reach.

“I’m very proud of the wins and losses, but I think everybody who knows me dearly knows how much I want to win a championship,” he told the Associated Press. “I dream about it. I wake up in the middle of the night sweating about it. If I got it, it would be unbelievable.”

The know-it-all: Roger Welch trains Standardbreds for owner George Steinbrenner--and “the Boss” is just as demanding in that sport as he is as owner of the New York Yankees.

“The least amount you talk to him, everything is fine,” Welch said. “When he starts speaking, you have to listen. His theories aren’t the best. There’s no reasoning. He never gives too much advice. He gives a ton of criticism. [But] if you do good, he’ll tell you you did good.”

Larger bunker: From Cleveland Indian shortstop Omar Vizquel: “Last year, when I took my hat off during the national anthem, a couple of my friends saw my bald spot and asked if I was growing a golf course up there because they saw some sand traps.

“Now I stand next to Matt Williams and they don’t notice it.”

Suggestion: Sports Illustrated writer Steve Rushin, commenting on UCLA’s being recognized as the top “jock” school in the country by the magazine:

“All things considered, UCLA should change the name to the University of California, Loaded with Athletes.”

Trivia answer: Ted Williams of the Boston Red Sox, with 145 in 1939.

Runner-up is Walt Dropo of the Red Sox with 144 in 1950.

And finally: Yankee Manager Joe Torre on his perception of how umpires are protected:

“If a manager doesn’t do his job, he gets fired. If a player doesn’t do his job, he is sent to the minors. If umpires don’t do their job, they just pack their bags and go to the next city.”