He’s Lacking a Winning Personality

Greg Cote, writing in the Miami Herald on the Washington Redskins’ “abrasive” owner Daniel Snyder:

“The University of Michigan dropout has proved to be a cigar-chomping dictator. . . . Snyder ordered the visitors’ dressing room painted in drab depressing tones to give his team a psychological edge.

“He demands office workers call him Mr. Snyder. Watches practices from a sideline chaise lounge. Refers to losing as a ‘tragedy.’ ”

He’s getting used to “tragedy,” though, as his Redskins are 1-2.

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Trivia time: Who holds the Pacific 10 record for yards gained rushing in a game?

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Trashing Moss: Miami Dolphin linebacker Robert Jones isn’t impressed with Minnesota Viking standout receiver Randy Moss:

“I think he’s overrated and not that good. I’ve been playing for a while and I’ve never seen someone so cocky. I have no respect for him as a player or a person.”

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Imposing opposition: Frank Isola of the New York Daily News, on the NBA’s four-team, multiple-player swap that sent the Knicks’ Patrick Ewing to Seattle:

“Even at his advanced age [38] and with two bad knees, Ewing is still regarded as one of the best centers in the league. This season he will find the going even tougher in the Western Conference against the likes of the Lakers’ Shaquille O’Neal and San Antonio’s Tim Duncan and David Robinson as well as Portland’s powerful front line.

“Ewing may regret demanding a deal.”

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Chipped off: Thirty-three runners in the Berlin Marathon on Sept. 10 decided to take a shortcut--on the subway.

They must have forgotten about the computer chips they were wearing to record their times at 5-kilometer intervals. All 33 were disqualified and their times stricken from the race results.

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Waiting game: South Carolina football Coach Lou Holtz, on Gamecock running back Derek Watson, who is adept at changing direction and cutting back against the pursuit:

“If I were defensing him, I’d tell the defensive players, ‘If you miss him, stand still because he’ll eventually come back to you.’ ”

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Trivia answer: Rueben Mayes of Washington State, 357 yards against Oregon in 1984.

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And finally: At Sydney 2000, women water polo players are are being ripped off. We’re referring to the tops of their suits.

Then comes the big dilemma--play on topless or swim to the side for a quick change. The Europeans play on, while the Americans and Australians adopt a more modest approach--they swim quickly to the side and cover up.