THE INSIDE TRACK : MORNING BRIEFING : Connors Shows He Can Still Talk a Mean Game

Oh, that Jimmy. There he goes again.

That’s the beauty of senior tennis. You never know what John McEnroe or Jimmy Connors is going to say next.

Connors, who has been relatively quiet lately, took down U.S. Open champion Andre Agassi earlier this week in a conference call with British reporters.

He didn’t think Agassi merited inclusion with himself and other tennis legends.

“I wouldn’t mention his name in the same breath,” Connors said.

That’s the Agassi who won the French Open and U.S. Open and reached the Wimbledon final this year. But Connors also didn’t like the notion that Agassi based his game on Connors’ game.

“Imitation is the greatest form of flattery, but I think they broke the mold when I finished,” he said.

By the way, when exactly did Connors win the French Open?

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Trivia time: Agassi is the fifth man to win each of the Grand Slam tournaments--the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. Who are the other four?

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No. 1 . . . again: According to a recent Harris Poll, the Dallas Cowboys are the country’s favorite NFL team for the sixth consecutive year, finishing ahead of the San Francisco 49ers, the Green Bay Packers and the Denver Broncos.

“It doesn’t seem to matter if they’re in the Super Bowl or win the Super Bowl, people seem to either love or hate the Cowboys,” said David Krane, senior vice president of the Harris Poll.

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Omar’s secret: Cleveland shortstop Omar Vizquel unveiled his own line of sportswear at a fashion show. Jackets ranged from $250-$2,500.

“And wait until you see the lingerie,” he said.

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Ode to Marge: The Marge Schott tenure is mercifully drawing to a close in Cincinnati, bringing forth this review of her regime:

“I think it will be a long time before the short-term impressions fade,” former commissioner Fay Vincent told the Cincinnati Post.

“Unfortunately, most of those are negative. I think Mrs. Schott tried hard to represent her town and her fan base, and a lot of fans did love her, but we all have demons and hers were overwhelming.”

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Shhhhh: Lee Westwood, a member of Europe’s Ryder Cup team, says he’d rather play in Europe than on the PGA Tour in the United States.

“The crowds [in Europe] aren’t as rowdy. There was a lot of shouting when I played with Tiger Woods at the PGA last month, but it happens week in, week out whoever you play with.

“I just don’t think they can help it. It’s not my cup of tea. Golf’s a game for gentlemen. That’s the way I was brought up--it’s not a football match.”

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Trivia answer: Rod Laver, Roy Emerson, Fred Perry and Don Budge.

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And finally: Toronto Blue Jay Manager Jim Fregosi, who suffered a black eye in a bar fight in Philadelphia: “Can I get in trouble talking to my mini-bar?”