Oiler coach Bum Phillips: When asked by Bob Costas why he takes
his wife on all the road trips, Phillips responded, "Because she is
too damn ugly to kiss goodbye."
Chicago Cubs outfielder Andre Dawson on being a role model: "I
want all the kids to do what I do, to look up to me. I want all the
kids to copulate me."
New Orleans Saint RB George Rogers when asked about the upcoming
season: "I want to rush for 1,000 or 1,500 yards, whichever comes first."
And, upon hearing Joe Jacoby of the 'Skins say "I'd run over my
own mother to win the Super Bowl," Matt Millen of the Raiders said,
"To win, I'd run over Joe's mom too."
Football commentator and former player Joe Theismann 1996:
"Nobody in football should be called a genius. A genius is a guy
like Norman Einstein."
Senior basketball player at the University of Pittsburgh: "I'm
going to graduate on time, no matter how long it takes."
Bill Peterson, a Florida State football coach: "You guys line up**
alphabetically by height." and "You guys pair up in groups of
three, then line up in a circle."
Clemson recruit Ray Forsythe, who was ineligible as a freshman
because of academic requirements: "I play football. I'm not trying
to be a professor. The tests don't seem to make sense to me, measuring
your brain on stuff I haven't been through in school."
Boxing promoter Dan Duva on Mike Tyson hooking up again with
promoter Don King: "Why would anyone expect him to come out smarter?
He went to prison for three years, not Princeton."
Stu Grimson, Chicago Blackhawks left wing, explaining why he
keeps a color photo of himself above his locker: "That's so when I
forget how to spell my name, I can still find my @#%#%@ clothes."
Shaquille O'Neal on whether he had visited the Parthenon during
his visit to Greece: "I can't really remember the names of the clubs
that we went to."
Shaquille O'Neal, on his lack of championships: "I've won at
every level, except college and pro."
Lou Duva, veteran boxing trainer, on the Spartan training regime
heavyweight Andrew Golota: "He's a guy who gets up at six
o'clock in the morning regardless of what time it is."
Pat Williams, Orlando Magic general manager, on his team's 7-27
record: "We can't win at home. We can't win on the road. As general
manager, I just can't figure out where else to play." (1992)
Chuck Nevitt, North Carolina State basketball player, explaining
to Coach Jim Valvano why he appeared nervous at practice: "My
sister's expecting a baby, and I don't know if I'm going to be an uncle or an
aunt."
Tommy Lasorda , Dodger manager, when asked what terms
Mexican-born pitching sensation Fernando Valenzuela might settle for
in his upcoming contract negotiations: "He wants Texas back." (1981)
Darrell Royal, Texas football coach, asked if the abnormal
number of Longhorn injuries that season resulted from poor physical
conditioning: "One player was lost because he broke his nose. How do
you go about getting a nose in condition for football?" (1966)
Mike McCormack, coach of the hapless Baltimore Colts after the
team's* co-captain, offensive guard Robert Pratt, pulled a hamstring
running onto the field for the coin toss against St. Louis: "I'm
going to send the injured reserve players out for the toss next time."
(1981)
Steve Spurrier, Florida football coach, telling Gator fans that
a fire at Auburn's football dorm had destroyed 20 books: "But the
real tragedy was that 15 hadn't been colored yet." (1991)
Jim Finks, New Orleans Saints G.M., when asked after a loss what
he thought of the refs: "I'm not allowed to comment on lousy
officiating." (1986)
Alan Kulwicki, stock car racer, on racing Saturday nights as
opposed to Sunday afternoons: "It's basically the same, just
darker."(1991)
Lincoln Kennedy, Oakland Raiders tackle, on his decision not to
vote: "I was going to write myself in, but I was afraid I'd get shot."(1996)
Frank Layden, Utah Jazz president, on a former player: "I told
him, 'Son, what is it with you. Is it ignorance or apathy?' He said,
'Coach, I don't know and I don't care.' " (1991)
Torrin Polk, University of Houston receiver, on his coach, John
Jenkins: "He treats us like men. He lets us wear earrings." (1991)
Shelby Metcalf, basketball coach at Texas A&M, recounting what
he told a player who received four F's and one D: "Son, looks to me
like you're spending too much time on one subject." (1987)