Rocky Manager Can Literally Throw Smoke

Mike Littwin of the Rocky Mountain News on new Manager Jim Leyland of the Colorado Rockies:

“So what do we know so far about Leyland, other than the obvious fact that he looks old and crusty and was born looking old and crusty and, in a five-minute interview, can rattle off more old and crusty expletives than you’ll hear in a 2 Live Crew double CD?

“The players like Leyland, of course, and not just for his preternatural ability to palm a cigarette without burning himself.

“Either he sprays asbestos on his hands or he took lessons from G. Gordon Liddy.”

*

Trivia time: What was the Lakers’ most significant comeback in an NBA playoff series?

*

Moment of glory: Country singer Garth Brooks got his first hit of spring training Sunday, a pinch-single in the second inning.

“I bet that base hit for him means more than if he sells another million records,” San Diego Padre General Manager Kevin Towers said.

Doubtful, Kevin, doubtful.

*

Nothing permanent: Miami Heat Coach Pat Riley on rumors that Knick Coach Jeff Van Gundy will be fired:

“Jeff is learning one thing about how I felt in New York: When you coach in New York, each year is like a dog year.”

And this from Knick center Patrick Ewing: “If they ever let Jeff go, they might as well trade me. It would be a stupid move.”

*

Win or . . . : Indiana Pacer Coach Larry Bird is undefeated in five games against his former team, the Boston Celtics.

Said Pacer star Reggie Miller: “He doesn’t talk about it, but you can see the look on his face. We know we always have to beat the Celtics.”

*

Careful what you wish for: Kevin Appier’s agent has been pressuring the Kansas City Royals to trade the pitcher.

According to Peter Gammons of the Boston Globe, when Royal Manager Tony Muser heard that the agent had told General Manager Herk Robinson he didn’t want Appier on a team that will lose 100 games, Muser went to the parking lot and screamed:

“We’ll trade him to a team that loses 120 games!”

*

Trivia answer: In the 1969-70 season, the Lakers trailed the Phoenix Suns, three games to one, then won three consecutive games and the series.

Six NBA teams have accomplished that feat, starting with Boston rallying to beat Philadelphia in the 1967-68 season.

No NBA team, however, has come back from a 0-3 deficit to win a playoff series.

*

And finally: Home run king Mark McGwire telling Dan Shaughnessy of the Boston Globe about his lack of privacy:

“The thing about going to the movies is, you walk in and the people who work there tell everybody that works there, and they get on the phone and call their friends and their friends start coming over and the next thing you know, you leave the movies and there’s people waiting for you outside.”