Bird Knows What’s Best for His Nest

Bob Ryan of the Boston Globe, on Indiana Pacer Coach Larry Bird, who, unlike other NBA coaches, has only two assistants:

“Dick Harter handles the defense. Rick Carlisle handles the offense. Harter is old enough to be Bird’s father and then some, and Bird is 43.

“Carlisle could be a younger brother. . . . Harter is the wise old head who has coached at every level and who knew how to manage a game. Carlisle is the rising star whippersnapper coach who someday will have his own team to run.

“They provide the perfect balance for Bird in every way.”

*

Trivia time: What is the NBA finals record for most three-point field goals made in a game without a miss?

*

Prediction: Bud Geracie in the San Jose Mercury News: “Lawrence Phillips’ next football game should come in the remake of ‘The Longest Yard.’ ”

*

More Phillips: “[He] has been charged with domestic violence, for the second time and he’d better be careful,” Bob Lacey told the San Francisco Chronicle. “One more strike and he’s a Dallas Cowboy.”

*

Very unusual: Florida Manager John Boles, on Marlin second baseman Luis Castillo, who tried to fine himself for a botched bunt:

“It’s the first time in my 20 years in professional baseball that I’ve had a player come to me and fine himself. It shows you how serious he is about this team and about his performance.”

*

May I Bob?: Jim Armstrong in the Denver Post: “According to Indiana U officials, school president Myles Brand was ‘out of state and did not have access to television’ when the Hoosiers’ basketball coach was being interviewed by Roy Firestone. Which leads to the obvious question: Did Brand get permission from Bob Knight to make the trip?”

*

More Knight: Bernie Lincicome in the Chicago Tribune: “[Knight] can only nibble at the cheese of remorse. He just can’t make himself take a big bite and swallow.”

*

Even More Knight: Rick Telander of the Chicago Sun-Times: “He took his one-hour purported bright-lamp, beg-for-mercy interrogation at the hands of ESPN’s Firestone and Digger Phelps and turned it into a virtual hymn to himself.”

*

Looking back: On this day in 1987, Bet Twice, with Craig Perret aboard, breezed to a 14-length victory in the Belmont Stakes to deny Alysheba the third jewel in the Triple Crown. Alysheba was a distant fourth.

*

Trivia answer: Scott Wedman of Boston, four, against the Lakers on May 27, 1985.

*

And finally: Blackie Sherrod in the Dallas Morning News: “Another example of folks who don’t have enough to do: fellow named John Baker will try to drive a golf ball from Pacific to Atlantic, starting with his right foot in the water in San Diego.

“Figures he can do 10 miles a day and it will take him about a year. When only available route is through towns, he’ll putt.”