Clippers Good For Something

Everyone in Philadelphia is raving about the reformation of Allen Iverson. He now reports to practice on time and even lifts weights. Why the turnaround? Blame it on the Clippers.

Sixers president Pat Croce said he was so worried about Iverson that he went down to visit him in Virginia over the summer.

“He was angry about the trade rumors,” Croce said. “In particular, he was insulted about the one that had him going to the Clippers. That embarrassed him. I told him, `Allen, no one has more job security than you have. Just follow coach (Larry) Brown’s rules and it’s no big deal.’ He said, `I can change.”’ So while the Clippers are, well, still the Clippers, they can at least take pride in knowing that they provide the motivation for other players to succeed.

The Bus on a mission

In an interview with Ron Cook of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Steelers running back Jerome Bettis said:

“I’ve always taken a lot of pride in being reliable. They pay me to play every week and produce yards. I know some guys think they get paid big money based on what they’ve done for a team in the past.

“I’ve always believed a team pays you big money because of what it expects you to do in the future. I’ve never been a guy to take something for nothing.”

The Bus better be careful. Those types of sentiments could blow a pretty good gig for a lot of players.

C’mon Dad, you can do it

Merlin Olsen, the Hall of Fame defensive tackle of the Los Angeles Rams in the 1960s and ‘70s, was asked by Gary Shelton of the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times to comment on the rigors of trench warfare:

“My kids used to have a game. They would bring their friends over on Monday morning to watch their dad try to get out of bed.”

Punks!

Charles Oakley of the Toronto Raptors: “I can’t really respect a lot of these young players because, you know, I’m 36 years old and they’re 22 and I’m still locking them up on a regular basis. That just shows you it’s all about hype.”

Compelling question

From Mike Bianchi of the Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel: “Here’s all I want to know in the mysterious case of Wendell Avery, the Tampa Bay Bucs’ assistant (coach) who was missing early this month: Did he vote or not?”

Really rubbing it in

Jay Leno on Chargers owner Alex Spanos threatening to leave San Diego for Sacramento if the city does not give the team a better stadium:

“Actually, he would have gone even farther away, but there are laws against transporting toxic waste.”

The last word …

“He is the most scrutinized Chad this side of Palm Beach County.”

- CBS’ Jim Nantz, commenting on New Orleans Saints running back Chad Morton, who replaced injured star Ricky Williams.