To Joy of Irish, Cloud Didn’t Bring Gloom

After driving to Notre Dame’s four-yard line in the final minute last Saturday, Boston College gave the ball to running back Mike Cloud on four consecutive plays.

Cloud wasn’t able to punch it into the end zone and the Eagles lost to the Irish, 31-26.

“They needed four yards to win,” wrote Dan Shaughnessy of the Boston Globe. “They got three yards and a dust of Cloud.”

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Trivia time: Who was the quarterback when UCLA won its only national title in 1954?

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Literally: For their last season in County Stadium next year, the Milwaukee Brewers have adopted the theme, “Bringing Down the House.”

The 45-year-old stadium will be razed after next season and the site used as a parking lot for adjacent Miller Park, the Brewers’ new home starting in 2000.

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Where am I? Tony Kornheiser of the Washington Post was unimpressed last Sunday with Washington Redskin receiver James Thrash, who was playing instead of Michael Westbrook, who had been benched for disciplinary reasons.

Thrash, he wrote, “knocked down so many balls thrown to him you had to wonder if he realized he was on offense.”

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You could look it up: Wrote Tony Barnhart of the Atlanta Journal and Constitution: “The ACC gets the big ink and teams from the SEC keep winning national championships, but the Pac-10 might play better hoops than any conference.”

No quarrel here, Tony, but Pac-10 teams win NCAA titles too.

They’ve won 15, including two of the last four--UCLA in 1995 and Arizona in 1997.

SEC teams have won eight, and three of the last five.

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More time to study: Ohio State linebacker Jerry Rudzinski, on the intricacies of the new bowl championship series rankings: “My finance classes are easier than this BCS thing.”

After the Buckeyes’ 28-24 loss to Michigan State last week, Rudzinski no longer has to concern himself with the rankings.

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Looking back: On this date 10 years ago, the Angels hired a manager, Doug Rader, who once said of his personality: “I usually don’t make a good first impression-- or a good second impression. For that matter, I usually come across as a sack of manure.”

Rader was fired less than three seasons later, despite a 232-216 record.

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Trivia answer: Terry Debay, who was used exclusively as a blocking back in Coach Red Sanders’ single-wing attack, never attempting a run or pass.

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And finally: Reports Peter Gammons of ESPN and the Boston Globe: “Remember how Mark McGwire offered the Hall of Fame anything it wanted after he hit No. 62? And how Sammy Sosa did the same? Well, there is still nothing pertaining to Cal Ripken’s streak in Cooperstown, because neither Ripken nor his handlers will turn anything over.”