Quick Takes

    As an avid but objective Lakers fan, it pains me to write the following:
Why are the Lakers going to lose this championship series? Tuesday night (Game 3 of the series) was the game in which the Lakers’ life was literally on the line. They had to make a statement to the Celtics, physically and psychologically. They didn't. The Lakers won the game, but not at all in convincing fashion. They kept Boston in the game. The Lakers are a soft team, and soft teams don’t win titles. This obvious felony compounded with the fact that Boston has home court advantage throughout this series (at least at this point, and I don't see that changing) is the exclamation mark!
    Another exclamation mark……………I hope I’m all wrong!
 
    Ken Griffey, Jr. hit the 600-home run milestone this week. This tremendous player’s numbers would be far greater had he not missed 50 or more games in seven different seasons due to injury. And from all indications, he’s clean, and that's the best part.

Story of the Week
FUNNY BOXING QUOTES

    Bob Hope: "I was called "Rembrandt" Hope in my boxing days because I spent so much time on the canvas." (It’s true. Bob Hope was a professional boxer in his very young years.)

    Willie Pep, talking to an old opponent years after each retired: "Do you recognize me?" the old opponent asked. Willie looked hard and considered before finally replying "Lie down. I’ll probably remember you."

    Willie Pastrano, when asked by the ring doctor if he knew where he was: "You're damn right I do. I'm in Madison Square Garden getting the crap knocked out of me."

    Henry Cooper, replying to boxing abolitionist, Baroness Edith Summerskill, about the brutalities of his sport:
Baroness: "Mr. Cooper, have you looked in the mirror lately and seen the state of your nose?"
Cooper: "Well madam, have you looked in the mirror and seen the state of your nose? Boxing is my excuse. What's yours?"

    Eddie Shaw, referring to Herol "Bomber” Graham : "He has turned defensive boxing into a poetic art. Trouble is nobody ever knocked anybody out with a poem."

    Mike Tyson, on writer Wallace Matthews: " He called me a rapist and a recluse. I'm not a recluse."

    Mark Kaylor: "I've only ever seen Errol Christie fight once before, and that was the best I've ever seen him fight."

    Lou Duva, veteran boxing trainer, on the spartan training regimen of heavyweight Andrew Golota: "He's a guy who gets up at six o'clock in the morning regardless of what time it is."

    Randall "Tex" Cobb: "When I got up off the canvas, I stuck to my plan; stumbling forward and getting hit in the face."

    Blackie Sherrod, talking about a specific heavyweight contender: "He has everything a boxer needs except speed, stamina, a punch, and ability to take punishment. In other words, he owns a pair of boxing trunks."

    Max Baer, on Joe Louis: "He hit me 18 times while I was in the act of falling."

    Harry Kabakoff, on Chango Cruz: "The bum was up and down so many times, I thought he was an Otis elevator."

    Tommy Farr: "Every time I hear the name Joe Louis, my nose starts to bleed."

    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."

    Max Baer, when asked for his definition of fear: "Standing across the ring from Joe Louis and knowing he wants to go home early."

    Frank Bruno: "I was in a no-win situation, so I'm glad that I won rather than lost.

    Marlon Starling: "I'll fight Lloyd Honeyghan for nothing if the price is right."

    Denny Pennis: "Have you ever thought of writing your autobiography?"
Chris Eubank: "On what?"

    Jack Handy: "To me, boxing is like a ballet, except there's no music, no choreography and the dancers hit each other."

    Brian London, answering if he would fight Ali again: "Sure, as long as he ties a 56 lb. weight to each leg."

    Willie Pep: "I've got it made. I've got a wife and a TV set, and they're both working."

    George Foreman: "Bob, I can't chase these guys anymore."
Bob Arum: "George, I cant put it in the contracts that they can't run."

    Randall "Tex" Cobb: "If you screw things up in tennis, it's 15-love. If you screw up in boxing, it's your ass."

    Bob Arum, after his fighter, Iran Barkley, won a fight: "If you think Barkley was mad before the fight, wait until he sees how many people are taking part of his purse."

    Tony Galento, when asked about Shakespeare: "I ain't never heard of him. I suppose he's one of dem foreign heavyweights. They're all lousy. Sure as hell I'll moider de bum."

    Mike Tyson, on fighting Lennox Lewis: "My main objective is to be professional, and to kill him."

    Joe Frazier, talking to Ken Norton at a social gathering.
Frazier: "Hey man, what you been doing?"
Norton: "My wife just had a baby."
Frazier: "Congratulations! Whose is it?"

    Jake LaMotta: The three toughest fighters I've ever been up against were Sugar Ray Robinson, Sugar Ray Robinson, and Sugar Ray Robinson. I fought Sugar so many times, I'm surprised I'm not diabetic. But I did have him off the canvas once.......when he stepped over my body to leave the ring.

                                                          Last Week’s Trivia

    Who is the last MLB pitcher to start both ends of a doubleheader? Knuckle ball lefty Wilbur Wood was the last to do it. On July 20, 1973, the Yankees knocked him out in both games and defeated Wood’s White Sox twice. Wood started 48 games that year. The rubber-arm pitcher threw 359.3 innings in 1973. His record in 1973 was 24-20, with 21 complete games. That season was not Wood’s high in either games started, complete games or innings pitched. He pitched in MLB for 17 years.

Trivia Question of the Week

    What player holds the NFL record for the most touchdowns scored in his rookie season? See next week’s Sports Junkie for the answer.