In Chicago, It Should Be Start Spreadin’ the Cash

Skip Bayless writing in the Chicago Tribune: “Are you sitting down, Chicago? The one thing you should envy about the New York sports scene is the man who owns the Yankees.

“The [George] Steinbrenner qualities many detest--the puffed-up yachtsman’s ego, the obsession with the spotlight, the knee-jerk firing and hiring--drive him to be the best owner in sports.

“Oh, do I wish Chicago had a Steinbrenner. Not this Steinbrenner. But one who lives by the motto ‘Losing is not an option.’ Or, ‘Money is no object.’ ”

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Trivia time: What is USC’s worst conference football record?

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Intimidating tradition: Bernie Lincicome of the Rocky Mountain News, commenting on the Yankees’ mystique: “The eyes do get bigger in Yankee Stadium. Can’t be helped.

“Beyond left field in front of the visiting bullpen is a low wall, on it the honored row of 15 retired Yankee numbers. A relief pitcher may watch the game with his feet propped up on Whitey Ford or on Thurman Munson or, appropriately, on Billy Martin.

“San Diego’s Tony Gwynn called the place the mecca of baseball, and Gwynn and his Padres never stopped gaping long enough to win a World Series game.”

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Wild and crazy guy: Detroit Lion Coach Bobby Ross was asked whether he had done anything during the team’s week off to get away from it all.

“Well,” he said proudly, “one day I went to a movie.”

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Strong as a lion: After the recent death of Leo “The Lion” Nomellini, considered by many as the San Francisco 49ers’ all-time best lineman, fellow 49er Hall of Famer Joe Perry said:

“He was as strong as three bulls. He’d slap you on the back and knock you 20 feet.”

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Headline writers’ dream: Bud Geracie in the San Jose Mercury News: “If Missouri and San Diego State meet in a bowl game, it will be a shootout between quarterbacks Lon Sheriff and Darius Outlaw.”

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Perfect fit? Jim Armstrong in the Denver Post: “Having flunked out of every league but the League of Nations, Lawrence Phillips wants to play for the XFL’s Las Vegas Outlaws. Imagine the possibilities.”

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Looking back: On this day in 1988, Dan Marino of the Miami Dolphins passed for a career-high 521 yards--second in NFL history to the Rams’ Norm Van Brocklin’s 554 yards in 1951.

However, he was intercepted five times in a 44-30 loss to the New York Jets.

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Trivia answer: USC was 1-6 in 1957.

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And finally: New England Patriot quarterback Drew Bledsoe has been sacked so many times this season that even his 3-year-old son, Stuart, has noticed.

Said Bledsoe: “Early in the season, I asked him, ‘Did you see Daddy on TV?’ And he said, ‘Yes.’ I asked him, ‘What did Daddy do?’ and he said, ‘Oh, Daddy just fell down.’ ”