Bomb Squad Looks Like Easy Money

Chicago Bear wide receiver Curtis Conway says taking a hit while streaking over the middle on third and long is child’s play compared to what he endured growing up in South Central Los Angeles.

“My father died when I was 13, and my uncles made sure I was tough,” Conway told the Chicago Sun-Times. “If I got beat up, they made me go back and fight again. That’s bragging rights in the ‘hood.”

Trivia time: Who hit home runs with four major league teams in the same season?

Greg who? Greg Maddux of the Atlanta Braves has been lauded for giving up only 20 walks while winning 19 games this year, but Christy Mathewson twice had 20-win seasons with fewer walks than victories.

In 1913, the New York Giant Hall of Fame pitcher had 25 wins and 21 walks and the next year he had 24 wins and 23 walks.

Who’s calling? Texas Coach John Mackovic got a bit testy when asked about his play calling in the Longhorns’ 37-29 loss to Missouri.

“If you’re asking a question about calling plays, just save all of your time,” he said. “Don’t question the play calling. Play callers call plays.”

Lonesome time: New Jersey Devil Coach Jacques Lemaire, on seeing so many empty seats when his team played in Greensboro, N.C., against the Carolina Hurricanes before an announced 6,382:

“I was looking at the warmups and the music wasn’t on . . . and I was wondering if there was a game.”

Looking back: On this day 50 years ago, in the first football game televised from the Rose Bowl, Los Angeles Community College defeated Pasadena Junior College, 32-6, with future Ram back Woodley Lewis scoring twice on punt returns. Bill Walsh called the game for KTLA Channel 5.

So there: Chicago Bull star Michael Jordan on General Manager Jerry Krause’s claim that organizations, and not players, win championships: “He says he was misquoted, and I hope that’s the case. Players win championships. If it happens any other way, please let me know.”

One for the DH: The Florida Marlins’ Jim Eisenreich sees the designated hitter as a way to extend his career.

“I like it,” he said, “I get paid to hit, pretty much. I’m 38 years old, so they don’t want me running in the outfield too much. I like the idea of just being able to concentrate on hitting.”

What’s in a name? The Philadelphia Flyers’ Legion of Doom Line has changed personnel. After Mikael Renberg was traded to Tampa Bay, it became Eric Lindros, John LeClair and 19-year-old Lithuanian Dainius Zubrus.

Philadelphia writers now call it the Legion of Zoom, or the Zoobie Doom Line.

Straightforward: After Dwayne Schintzius turned up missing from the Phoenix Suns’ training camp, Coach Danny Ainge said succinctly, “Tough to make the team when you’re not here.”

Cuban critique: Apparently, Cuban writers are as tough on their teams as scribes from New York or Philadelphia. After Cuba’s baseball team lost a game in Barcelona last summer, the state-run newspaper, Granma, opened its story this way:

“Sunday, at 3:42 in the afternoon, under a persistent Catalan drizzle, the Cuban National Team surrendered.”

Setting the table: Sean Elliott of the San Antonio Spurs on teammate David Robinson: “He’s our centerpiece. We are all decorations around him.”

Trivia answer: Dave Kingman, nine with the Mets, 11 with San Diego, two with the Angels and four with the Yankees, in 1977.

And finally: Jay Leno says Los Angeles may have competition in obtaining an NFL team, “because Chicago’s also trying to get a professional football team.”