With McNown, Life May Become Un-Bearable

Skip Bayless in the Chicago Tribune: “After Sunday’s loss in Buffalo, Cade McNown approached one reporter outside the locker room and another inside and stared daggers before turning away without a word.

“You can only guess what McNown’s message was, something like, ‘You can take your fan favorite Jim Miller and stick him up your nose.’

“Miller, of course, had suffered an unbelievably unlucky Achilles’ rupture, clouding his future. Now when McNown returns in a week or two from a shoulder injury, the quarterback job will be his again unchallenged.

“No more Mr. Nice Guy--no more Miller. McBrat was back, like it or not.”

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Trivia time: Who holds the NFL record for the longest punt?

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Cold: Peter Vecsey in the New York Post: “Personally, I didn’t get all that excited about Patrick Ewing’s reunion with his former team [the New York Knicks].

“I would’ve been more inclined to see a reunion between Ewing and his former talent. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen anybody used as a trailer on the fastbreak for both sides.”

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Colder: Jim Armstrong in the Denver Post: “If you haven’t seen Ewing since he landed in Seattle, don’t look. The Space Needle has a quicker first step.”

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Say what? Jeff Gordon in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: “For reasons that science can’t explain, Philadelphia 76er guard Allen Iverson is talking up his coach, Larry Brown.

“ ‘Coach is coaching big time,’ Iverson gushed. ‘We haven’t been in a lot of blowout games. We’ve been in close games where plays matter and key calls matter at the end of the game. He’s been making big calls.’ ”

Comment: We wonder whether the gushing will continue when the 76ers have a losing streak.

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Broadside: Minnesota state Sen. John Marty, on Gov. Jesse Ventura being hired for NBC’s XFL broadcasts: “He’s clearly using the prestige and the name of his office to enrich himself financially. And even if that’s not illegal, I find it very troubling. Where’s his loyalty? The loyalty ought to be to the public--the taxpayer--not people willing to enrich him based on how outrageous he can be.”

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Extreme ruling: Jerry Greene in the Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel: “So Jesse Ventura is going to be the No. 1 XFL analyst for NBC. As governor, does that mean he can have a player executed for dropping a pass?”

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Trivia answer: Steve O’Neal of the New York Jets, an unbreakable 98 yards against Denver on Sept. 21, 1969.

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And finally: Tom FitzGerald in the San Francisco Chronicle: “Portland Trail Blazer forward Rasheed Wallace’s temper would have to cool considerably to be considered volcanic.

“Last season, he set an NBA record with 38 technical fouls. He had six in the first nine games this season, putting him on pace for 55.

“ ‘I just try to go out there and play and be a monster, be a beast, be a goon,’ ” Wallace says.

“Athletes know how important it is to set goals.”