Under New System, He’ll Just Pac It In

Glenn Dickey of the San Francisco Chronicle laments the Pacific 10 Conference’s joining the alliance this year and altering the Rose Bowl matchup of Pac-10 and Big Ten champions.

“The rivalry has been a fierce one and partisans of individual colleges put aside their differences to root for the conference representative.

“For many like me, the only time we would ever root for USC was when it’s in the Rose Bowl.”

Gee, Glenn, that’s big of you.

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Trivia time: What is the Pac-10 bowl game record for the longest run from scrimmage?

Waste of talent: The Associated Press reported that Palestine (Texas) High Coach Rick Langley dismissed running back Larry Williams from the team, along with two other players, for repeatedly missing practices.

The AP went on to say that Williams had 4.2-second speed in the 40-yard dash. If so, he’s the fastest player--high school, college or pro--in the country.

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Time warp: Real Madrid’s Fernando Redondo is one of Argentina’s most talented midfielders, but he apparently won’t play for his country in the World Cup because he won’t get a haircut.

Coach Daniel Passarella, a World Cup winner as a player in 1978 and strict disciplinarian, has warned everyone that long hair is not acceptable.

Hey, Coach, where have you been? That was an issue in the 1960s!

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Mangled name: Joe Knowles in the Chicago Tribune: “The Cubs continue to make the effort to improve by trading for Phillies’ second baseman Mickey Morandini.

“Best of all, Harry Caray gets plenty of time to begin practicing assorted mispronunciations.”

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Looking ahead: Point guard Stephon Marbury of the Minnesota Timberwolves on Seattle point guard Gary Payton: “Right now, he’s definitely the best point guard in the NBA. He’s the point guard for the present. And I think I’m the new millennium point guard.”

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Only chance: From The Good Doctor in Inside Sports magazine:

Question: “Do you believe that the Denver Broncos will be able to get to the Super Bowl?”

Answer: “Yes, if the airport is open.”

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Looking back: On this day in 1991, Wayne Gretzky scored three goals, including his 700th, as the Kings beat the New York Islanders, 6-3.

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Trivia answer: Dwight Ford of USC, 94 yards against Texas A&M; in the 1977 Bluebonnet Bowl. The Trojans won, 47-28.

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And finally: Keith Tkachuk, Phoenix left winger, before playing against the Calgary Flames: “This is a team we should walk all over.”

Tkachuk again after playing the Flames: “We lost to a bad hockey team.”