Sunshine State Has Gloomy Outlook

Mike Bianchi in the Orlando Sentinel: “People, we’ve seen the golden age of Florida and Florida State, and, sadly, now it’s over. Steve Spurrier got restless. Bobby Bowden got old .... Spurrier took the NFL millions, and now you have to wonder how long until Bowden takes Social Security ....

“We were pigheaded and provincial enough to think the winning and grinning, the rivalry and the revelry would go on forever. We thought being in the middle of this recruiting hotbed would be enough to sustain UF and FSU forever.

“How arrogant we were.”

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Trivia time: Who holds the Pacific 10 record for punting average during the regular season?

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One not enough: Bruce Jenkins of the San Francisco Chronicle had hopes for the Giants in Game 7 of the World Series:

“The Giants made only one remark of any substance, a second-inning sacrifice fly by Reggie Sanders for a 1-0 lead, and for a fleeting moment, you wondered if it might be enough. This would be the night, one for the ages and all Giants past, a victory for Dirty Al Gallagher, Count Montefusco, Shooter Beck, Stretch McCovey and the Say-Hey Kid, Willie Mays.

“It turned out to be one for Bo Belinsky, Eli Grba and Gene Autry, the late Angels owner.”

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Stay put: Rick Morrissey in the Chicago Tribune: “As much as I’d like to see Dusty Baker in a Cubs uniform next season, I don’t think it would be his best style statement.

“The fans adore him in San Francisco. Most anywhere else, fans want to set up a funeral pyre at the pitchers’ mound and ritually charbroil the manager.”

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Big shots: Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News says the Lakers had better watch out for the Sacramento Kings:

“The NBA will experience a regime change in June because the Kings aren’t intimidated by the Lakers anymore.

“It’s about knowing you can get your shots when and where you want them, about figuring out how to keep O’Neal from smashing rims and Kobe Bryant from slashing you to bits.

“But the physical stuff doesn’t hurt, either. They always say: To take the title away from a champion, you have to put the champion on the floor.”

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A record? Dwight Perry in the Seattle Times: “Here’s one good reason to outlaw hyphenated last names on marriage certificates: According to the Palm Beach (Fla.) Post, golfer Mark Calcavecchia’s new girlfriend is Brenda Nardecchia. For those of you scoring at home, that’s 22 letters -- plus the hyphen.”

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Hockey? Bill Simmons of ESPN.com: “My favorite NHL division is the Southeast: Washington, Tampa Bay, Florida, Carolina and Atlanta. Lotta history there.”

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Looking back: On this day in 1955, UCLA, led by Coach Red Sanders, routed California, 47-0, at the Coliseum.

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Trivia answer: Kirk Wilson of UCLA, 49.3 yards in 1956.

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And finally: Martin Fennelly in the Tampa Tribune on Notre Dame beating Florida State: “Outlined against a blue-gray October sky, Notre Dame didn’t need a single horseman to wake up the echoes.

“You wouldn’t have heard them anyway. Not over the thud made by the home team.”

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-- Mal Florence