This Job Has Strings Attached

Randy Galloway of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram writing on the new Dallas Cowboy coach: “Jerry Jones introduced his new puppet yesterday, which is not a personal indictment of Mr. Dave Campo.

“But like it not, true or not, it’s the perception Campo will now have to live with, locally and nationally. . . . Such is the pox Jerry has placed on his own head-coaching house. . . .

“Unfortunately, whomever the choice, the new guy was going to be slapped with an immediate image problem. It’s that puppet thing again.”

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Trivia time: Jeff Fisher was a starting cornerback for USC in 1979 and 1980. Who were the other regulars in the defensive backfield?

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Think quickly: Dave Kindred of the Sporting News has some of his own Super Bowl recollections, such as:

“Super Bowl VIII: My wife asked me what I’d done that day and I said, ‘Well, I spent an hour or two with Fran Tarkenton,’ and my wife’s tone turned chilly when she asked, ‘And just who is she?’

“Super Bowl XVII: Asked about a drinking problem, Redskin fullback John Riggins said, ‘The only drinking problem I have is when I’m hanging upside down from the ceiling.’ ”

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Sounds reasonable: Ron Rapoport in the Chicago Sun-Times: “You have to draw the line somewhere. The Mavericks have agreed to several of Dennis Rodman’s requests, according to the Dallas Morning News.

“He can ride an exercycle in practice, he can skip pregame shootarounds, he can show up for games half an hour later than anyone else and he can wait until after the Super Bowl before suiting up. The Pro Bowl is out, however.”

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Cleaning up: From comedy writer Jerry Perisho: “Cleveland Cavalier center Zydrunas Ilgauskas underwent surgery to place two screws in his broken foot.

“While he was under, specialists were also called to remove two consonants and a vowel from his name.”

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Trivia answer: Ronnie Lott, Dennis Smith and Joey Browner.

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And finally: Craig Stadler, known as the Walrus on the PGA Tour, may not be living up to his nickname. According to GolfWorld, he lost 35 pounds over Thanksgiving and Christmas.

He said he’d like to lose 25 pounds more and then keep it off.

“I got tired of being fat,” said Stadler, who did not reveal his exact weight, then or now. “I went from a lot to a little less to not quite enough. New wardrobe, new diet, hopefully new results.”