Soward Stars in the Fast and the Furious

Gene Frenette of the Florida Times-Union, commenting on troubled Jacksonville Jaguar wide receiver R. Jay Soward: “Quarterback Mark Brunell marvels at Soward’s physical gifts, saying that few NFL receivers have ‘that burst, that speed.’

“Soward has the fastest first step of any Jaguar, including Jimmy Smith. Too bad he couldn’t use it to stay one step ahead of trouble.”

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Trivia time:Who was USC’s first consensus All-American football player?

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Remember when?The Astrodome, the former Eighth Wonder of the World, has become such a white elephant that the Houston livestock show and rodeo plans to move into the city’s new NFL stadium next year, the Chicago Tribune reports.

The newspaper says developers have several proposals for the Astrodome, including building ski hills inside it and holding boat races on a submerged floor.

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Let’s not forget: Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News suggests that sports shouldn’t be staged hereafter on Sept. 11.

“I am not the first person to write this and I assume I will not be the last.

“I am not the only one struck by the shrill spectacle of too many games played too loudly and for too much money and selling too many products, against the backdrop of the ruins in south Manhattan and Washington.”

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Old argument: Arizona Diamondback pitcher Randy Johnson, an avid golfer, was asked by Golf Digest’s Bob Verdi whether pro golfers are athletes: “Absolutely. It takes a lot of skill. The ability to pull off shot after shot, four days in a row, under pressure.

“That’s what athletics is all about, isn’t it? Plus, you’re faced with having to make a cut after two days.”

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It didn’t take long: In Philadelphia, the Veterans Stadium crowd needed only three batters to get back into form Monday night. It was the moment an Atlanta home run was hit.

Said Phillie Manager Larry Bowa: “You realized the healing had started when they booed Chipper [Jones].”

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FYI: Guy Drut, the Olympic gold medalist in the 110-meter high hurdles in 1976 at Montreal, is the son-in-law of Jacques Chirac, the president of France.

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Looking back: On this day in 1969, USC defeated Nebraska, 31-21, in a season-opening game in Lincoln, Neb.

The Trojans had a 10-0-1 record that season, including a 10-3 victory over Michigan in the Rose Bowl game.

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Looking back again: On this day in 1992, Philadelphia second baseman Mickey Morandini pulled off baseball’s ninth unassisted triple play and the National League’s first since 1927 in the sixth inning of a game against Pittsburgh.

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Trivia answer: Tailback Mort Kaer in 1926.

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And finally: If Steve Rushin of Sports Illustrated were in charge of the NFL, here’s one change he’d order: “The league shall henceforth conduct random drug testing on players’ wives. It will suspend those spouses who test positive for any of the following substances: ‘Aqua Net Super Hold, Maybelline Whiplash Mascara and Clairol Platinum Blonde Number 9.”’