Seems This Bear Is Nothing More Than a Scapegoat

Debra Levi Holtz in the San Francisco Chronicle: “Oski the Bear, Cal’s aging mascot, should shed his middle-age paunch, say some student leaders who want to transform him into a leaner, more spirited symbol.

”. . . . A bill passed by UC’s Associated Students of the University of California called for a make-over of the ‘poorly constructed and pathetic version of a bear.’ The bill was vetoed by the ASUC president, but the measure’s author said she hopes to to persuade the student senate to override the veto.

“Just because he’s a mascot is no excuse for his decrepit condition,” said ASUC senator Shireen Brueggerman, who said a lot of students complained to her about Oski’s image.”

Aw, leave Oski alone.

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Trivia time: Who holds the Pacific 10 Conference record for most field goals made in a game?

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One quarter wonder team: Arizona State Coach Bruce Snyder commenting on USC before Saturday’s game at the Coliseum: “And when you watch them that first quarter against Notre Dame, they are the best team in America.”

Give Snyder credit: He’s breaking new ground in hyperbole. As for the Trojans, they lost to Arizona State, 26-16, but managed to tie the Sun Devils in the first quarter, 7-7.

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Hoops at night: “He’s always daydreaming,” said LuAnne Heinen of Sussex, Wis., on her husband, Calvin, who could make midnight basketball an outdoor sport after inventing a lighted backboard.

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Limited future: Woody Paige in the Denver Post on Ryan Leaf: “The CRyan Game: They can’t play him; they can’t trade him; they can’t train him not to go on the carpet; they can’t cut him, and they can’t even kill him.

”. . . . Leaf may be the most talented quarterback ever to come into the NFL who belongs in a day-care center.”

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All-time fakers: Blackie Sherrod in the Dallas Morning News: “Best faking quarterback of all time may have been Eddie LeBaron, the little magician with the Redskins and Cowboys.

”. . . . Perhaps the best QB faker since LeBaron is Payton Manning of the Colts. Pros don’t put much emphasis on QB faking, but young Manning is very much the magician with his handoffs, fadebacks, bootleg rollouts, etc.”

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Trivia answer: John Lee of UCLA, six against San Diego State in 1984.

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FYI: The 1957 USC team found a way to break a losing streak. The Trojans lost their first five games, beat Washington, 19-12, then lost their last four and finished 1-9--worst record in school history with a full schedule.

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And finally: Laura Vecsey in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer: “To Phil Jackson: What exactly were you smoking when you posed for that goofy Sports Illustrated cover?

“You look like a Trappist monk after a trip to Woody Harrelson’s oxygen bar, which means you’ve already been in L.A. too long.”

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Quotebook: Henry Aaron, speculating on where Ken Griffey will eventually wind up: “He could go to New York [Mets] and be the king’s bee. They’d name a candy bar after him.”