Unitas Usually Trashed His Opponents

Sports historian Tom Ryugo of Berkeley told the San Francisco Chronicle that Johnny Unitas, besides being an outstanding quarterback, was also a prankster.

“At the Colts’ training camp one year, he set up a booby trap in the dormitory so that when somebody walked in the front door, several trash cans would roll down the stairs and run him over.

“Unitas heard the door open and let loose, expecting a few laughs at the expense of some rookie. The cans rolled down the stairs and bowled over Coach Don Shula.�

Shula is not known for his sense of humor.

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Trivia time: Who holds the record for most seasons leading the NFL in touchdowns?

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“Lucky� Luciano? Dwight Perry in the Seattle Times: “Luciano, the Chievo’s team Brazilian midfielder, has been suspended indefinitely by the Italian Soccer League for playing under a false name and lying that he was 23 years old, when he was actually 27.

“The worldwide response was swift. The Bronx Little League, stunned that someone would think of such a thing, immediately ruled Luciano eligible to play for the first two weeks of the 2002 season.�

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More Perry: “Evansville, the last NCAA Division I basketball team to wear sleeved jerseys, has announced that it will relent and go sleeveless this season, ending a tradition that covers 46 of the last 55 seasons.

“The Aces, however, did not disclose any plans for replacing their peach baskets.�

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Grow up, kid: Gene Frenette in the Florida Times-Union: “Randy Moss’ reaction to the media frenzy that he created with his DWS (Driving While Stupid) was another example of a pro athlete carrying an entitlement attitude.

“The Minnesota Vikings’ immature receiver did such a poor job of showing contrition to the traffic officer that he might as well have screamed out: ‘Hey, I run people over when I want to run people over.’ �

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Same old problem: Former Pirate pitcher Steve Blass’ career was stymied by an uncurable bout of wildness. Now a Pittsburgh broadcaster, he caught a foul ball in the booth in Cincinnati recently.

He tried to drop the ball to a kid in the stands, but it hit a man on the head, bounced and hit another kid in the head. Said Blass: “I still don’t have any control.�

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Ugh! Reporters asked Cleveland Browns’ Coach Butch Davis to describe what he was feeling while this team rallied for a dramatic 31-28 victory over the Tennessee Titans.

“You have no idea,� Davis said. “I can’t begin to tell you. Your guts are just eaten and you feel like you want to dry heave and gag.�

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Looking back: On this day in 1927, New York Yankee slugger Babe Ruth broke his own record when he hit home run No. 60 off Washington’s Tom Zachary.

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Trivia answer: Don Hutson of Green Bay, eight, 1935-1938, 1941-44.

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And finally: Woody Paige in the Denver Post commenting on new Nugget Coach Jeff Bzdelik: “According to someone close to Bzdelik, he has the mind for the NBA but doesn’t have a clue beyond the court.

“Bzdelik is a gym rat who apparently hasn’t gotten out of the darkness and into the light as an assistant, a scout and a high school and small college coach.�