What’s Up Here? Is Oakley Angling to Be Next Victim?

Charles Oakley of the New York Knicks, who has had conflicts with Charles Barkley, had this opinion on Sir Charles’ latest confrontation--throwing a 5-foot-2 man into a plate-glass window:

“He’s just a brawler. I don’t even talk about him. He’s just every year getting into trouble. But the league likes him.

“He’s one of the Top 50 [in NBA history]. I don’t worry about Barkley. He’s a brawler and you can tell him Oak said it.”

Hey, Charles, Oak said you’re a brawler.

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Trivia time: What is the oldest football rivalry in the Pacific 10 Conference?

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Politically correct: Milwaukee Buck center Andrew Lang on the NBA hiring female referees for the first time: “I married a female. I think they’re good people.”

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All alone: Mike Monroe in the Denver Post: “We’re saying this may be right there with Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak, Wilt Chamberlain’s 100 points and Cy Young’s 511 wins.

“With the three-point line back to 23 feet 9 inches, Steve Kerr’s lifetime trifecta percentage of .478 may be out of reach.”

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Clip and save: Told that many in the media had picked his team 29th in a 29-team league, Denver Nugget Coach Bill Hanzlik said:

“Great, I love it! All the better. That’s good locker room material. I’ll make a prediction. We won’t be dead last.”

The Nuggets’ battle cry this season: “We’re No. 28!”

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Bye bye Barry? Larry Guest in the Orlando Sentinel: “What do Vince Lombardi, Madonna and Barry Switzer have in common? Answer: They all have no chance of coaching the Dallas Cowboys next season.”

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Looking back: On this day in 1960, Wilt Chamberlain scored 44 points and set a still-standing NBA record by missing all 10 of his free throws as the Philadelphia Warriors beat the Detroit Pistons, 136-121.

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Looking back again: On this day in 1962, the Rams lost to the Detroit Lions, 12-3. The Rams finished the season with a 1-12-1 record.

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Trivia answer: Oregon-Oregon State, 100 games dating to 1894.

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And finally: John Crumpacker in the San Francisco Examiner: “An obscurity named Kerwin Waldrop, a Detroit Lion defensive lineman, was warned by the league that the next time he hits a quarterback in the knees he’ll be suspended. He’s done the dirty deed to Brett Favre, Bobby Hebert and Trent Dilfer.

“ ‘Basically, I can’t touch ‘em nowhere under the knees. Can’t grab ‘em, can’t hit ‘em, nothing,’ he said.

“Comment: Serves the Lions right for drafting a 3-foot tall lineman.”