Cheap Seats
When Bronko ran, nothing was safe George Halas, the late Chicago Bears owner-coach, once told this story about his legendary fullback, Bronko Nagurski:
In a game against Washington at Wrigley Field, Nagurski supposedly barreled up the middle, sent two linebackers flying in different directions, trampled two secondary players, bounced off the goal post, and finally plowed into a brick wall, cracking it.
“The last guy hit me awfully hard,” Nagurski reportedly said when he reached the sideline.
Join the club
Bob Ryan of the Boston Globe on the all-century team: “Anyone who doesn’t understand that Honus Wagner remains the greatest shortstop of all time or who thinks Nolan Ryan is one of the top six pitchers ever is a baseball ignoramus.”
Of course, Bob Ryan is the president of The Society of Baseball Ignoramuses. He epitomizes an enormous group of pompous baseball know-it-alls who actually think they know for certain which player was the best of all time at each position.
Hook, line and sinker
San Francisco 49ers guard Ray Brown is irritated that he was goaded into squaring off with Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle John Randle in a recent game.
“Randle is such a jerk,” Brown said. “He baited me, and I’m flopping in the boat.”
Never stops coaching
Michigan State football coach Nick Saban to the Detroit News, on the cheerleader who attacked Wisconsin’s mascot for degrading a Spartans flag during their game Oct. 23:
“The tackle was just like we teach it. The guy obviously has played football and was coached very well. I’ve got to get the height, weight and speed on him.”
A Chili reception
Chili Davis, 39, of the New York Yankees is an 18-year veteran, who played with the Kansas City Royals in 1997.
A Kansas City writer asked Davis during the World Series: “I thought you had retired.” Said Davis: “They buried me 6 feet under and gave me a 7-foot straw.”
The last word …
“We have trouble running from the huddle to the line of scrimmage.”
- Purdue football coach Joe Tiller, on his team’s ground game.