Bledsoe Makes Noise When Parcells Doesn’t

Drew Bledsoe of the New England Patriots, a more mature quarterback now, is hearing a quiet voice this season--not the usual bellowing one from Coach Bill Parcells, according to Ron Borges of the Boston Globe.

“Had the self-proclaimed Jersey Guy moved to San Diego? Had ‘Like wow’ replaced ‘What the [expletive] were you thinking of?’

“Had Parcells gone soft or had he just gone out to one of those self-actualizing retreats in the California mountains that can change a truck driver into Alan Alda in three days?”

*

Trivia time: When did Northwestern play in the Rose Bowl?

*

Bogey ball: Oakland Athletic pitcher Ariel Prieto is learning golf from teammate Stan Javier. Said Prieto: “I play golf like I pitch. I hit sinkers, sliders and curveballs.”

*

Asking for trouble: Eddie Sefko in the Houston Chronicle: “Ever wonder what goes through the heads of some players? In San Antonio, Spur forward J.R. Reid packs a .45-caliber handgun into his carry-on luggage and--surprise!--is arrested at the security checkpoint.”

*

No Gipper theatrics: Barry Switzer, Dallas Cowboy coach, told Frank Luksa of the Dallas Morning News that locker room speeches to the team are a thing of the past.

“There’s nothing I can say they haven’t heard,” Switzer said. “Football is a game of repetition. Verbal and physical. There aren’t any Knute Rockne stories. People who believe that are romantics.”

*

Attention, Lou Holtz!In a burst of hyperbole the Chicago Sun Times declared that Northwestern’s 17-15 victory over Notre Dame on Saturday was the “Upset of the Century.”

Circle Nov. 4 on your calendar. That’s when Notre Dame will be seeking its 32nd consecutive victory over Navy. An improbable Navy victory would be the “Upset of All Time.”

*

The “A” list: Bernie Lincicome in the Chicago Tribune: “What kind of an NFL season will it be? I predict [Chicago Bear rookie] Rashaan Salaam will trade a vowel for a new set of hands.”

*

Yawn: The New York Post reported a recent clubhouse speech by Reggie Jackson was ignored.

“Not a Yankee player looked up from eating or dressing to even acknowledge his words.”

*

Looking back: On this day in 1949, Pancho Gonzalez won his second consecutive U.S. Lawn Tennis Assn. championship.

*

Trivia answer: On Jan. 1, 1949, when the Wildcats beat California, 20-14.

*

Quotebook: Terrell Davis, Denver Bronco rookie running back, on his playbook: “It’s like my American Express card. I don’t leave home without it.”