Operating Expenses Have Outpaced Quarterly Profits

Thomas Boswell in the Washington Post, on the underachieving Redskins: “The Washington Redskins are like Nasdaq. Just when you think they’ve found a bottom, they go lower. Sometimes, like Sunday, much lower.

“With their inept 32-13 loss to the lowly Cowboys, the Redskins raised the same kind of questions about fundamentals and evaluations as some flimsy dot.com.

“Is this $100-million team all hype and no performance? Could anybody coach them to excellence? Are they a bit too old, too injured and too overrated to be more than the most expensive mediocrity in NFL history?”

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More Boswell: “Facing third and 29 in the third quarter, the Redskins got a delay of game [penalty]. There is no play for third and 29. So, how can you think too long about it?”

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Trivia time: Which Pacific 10 Conference player holds the bowl-game record for yards rushing?

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Cold: Peter Vecsey of the New York Post, on the recent problems of Utah Jazz center Olden Polynice: “Why should we be surprised Polynice has been impersonating a policeman in Salt Lake City? He has been impersonating an NBA center for years.”

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Losing reward: Ron Rapoport in the Chicago Sun-Times: “What did Colorado’s 3-8 record do to Gary Barnett? It gave him a contract extension through 2005, that’s what.

“Barnett didn’t get a raise, according to Denver papers, but will have to struggle along on $720,000 a year.”

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Aerial blitz: Dan Barreiro of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, on the Vikings’ 40-29 loss to the St. Louis Rams:

“This wasn’t just a loss, folks. This was another thumping of truly jolting proportions. In two games against the Vikings, [Kurt] Warner has completed 54 of 65 passes.

“This just doesn’t happen in the NFL. It doesn’t even happen on sandlots.”

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Postgame plan: Jeff Gordon in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

“The Pittsburgh Penguins find it weird to have team owner Mario Lemieux in their midst, but it could be a plus too.

“ ‘I think I’m going to take him out on the first road trip, get him drunk and talk contract,’ quipped Penguin ruffian Bob Boughner.”

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More Lemieux: Penguin forward Matthew Barnaby: “I can’t wait. It’s like we traded for the best player in the world and didn’t give up anything in return.”

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A first? Sports historian Dwain Esper points out that the Seattle Mariners have lost three future Hall of Famers: Randy Johnson to the Arizona Diamondbacks, Ken Griffey Jr. to Cincinnati and now Alex Rodriguez to the Texas Rangers.

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Looking back: On this day in 1983, the Detroit Pistons defeated the Denver Nuggets, 186-184, in triple overtime in the highest-scoring game in NBA history. Isiah Thomas scored 47 points and John Long added 41 for the Pistons. Denver’s Kiki Vandeweghe had 51 points.

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Looking back again: On this day in 1998, Gary Anderson kicked six field goals, setting the then-NFL record of 34 in succession in Minnesota’s 38-28 victory over Baltimore.

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Trivia answer: UCLA’s Gaston Green, 266 yards against Brigham Young in the 1986 Freedom Bowl. UCLA won, 31-10.

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And finally: Denver Bronco receiver Ed McCaffrey, on recovering an onside kick against the Seattle Seahawks:

“I can’t stand onside kicks. Too hectic, total chaos.

“Seven, eight guys trying to take your head off while a ball is bouncing at all angles at 100 mph. One of my least favorite things to do.”