Biggest Problem in Cowboy Dorm Was Hallwalkers

By MAL FLORENCE

Sept. 10, 1997 12 AM PT

Want to know the real reason Dallas Cowboy owner Jerry Jones installed surveillance cameras in the dormitory at the team’s training camp?

Cowboy Coach Barry Switzer provided the answer: “We have surveillance cameras to protect us. Do you realize that? We don’t want a bunch of hookers walking down the the hall at 2 in the morning.

“Our football team goes in and goes to bed, but sometimes they have people coming in the dorms. That’s why we had the cameras in there.”

So the cameras were there to protect the Cowboys against any wandering by ladies of the night. Whatever you say, Barry.

Trivia time: Who holds the NFL record for the longest run from scrimmage?

Sacrificial lambs: Iowa Coach Hayden Fry, saying he hoped the $300,000 that Division I-AA Northern Iowa earned playing the Hawkeyes last Saturday was worth it:

“I imagine they’re happy for the money, but can you imagine how those players feel, 66-0?”

Come again? When USA network’s John McEnroe mentioned during the U.S. Open that he had acted with Andre Agassi’s wife, Brooke Shields, on her television show “Suddenly Susan,” partner Ted Robinson was briefly silent.

“I did see the show,” Robinson said. “It was the word ‘acting’ that threw me off.”

Impressed: Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals, a new National Leaguer, on his choice for the best NL pitcher, Montreal’s Pedro Martinez:

“He’s got the best [stuff] that I have ever seen. I’ve seen some guys with damn good arms, but he can throw his fastball, his breaking ball and his changeup at any time in the count.”

Rubbing it in: Headline in Sunday’s San Diego Union-Tribune after UCLA and USC lost to Tennessee and Florida State: “Loss Angeles.”

What to do? Texas Ranger outfielder Tom Goodwin on receiving the first intentional walk of his major league career in his 1,714th plate appearance:

“I don’t know how I was supposed to act. Am I just supposed to stand there, or am I supposed to act like I’m going to hit?”

FYI: Now that Jerry Rice of the San Francisco 49ers is out for the season, center Bruce Matthews of the Tennessee Oilers has the longest streak of consecutive starts at 151 games.

Looking back: On this day in 1988, fifth-ranked UCLA defeated second-ranked Nebraska, 41-28, at the Rose Bowl.

Trivia answer: Tony Dorsett of the Dallas Cowboys, 99 yards against Minnesota on Jan. 3, 1983.

And finally: Although Michael Jordan’s new contract with the Chicago Bulls is a one-year deal, Sam Smith of the Chicago Tribune doesn’t think Jordan will retire after this season.

“After all,” Smith writes, “he’ll only be 35 at the beginning of next season, and he has never had a major injury, other than a broken foot 10 years ago.

“For two years, he merely waved at curveballs and golf balls, hardly strenuous activity, especially when you’re only making contact with one.”