Whole Thing Had a Funny Ring

Wallace Matthews of Newsday, covering the press conference for the Hector (Macho) Camacho-Ray (Boom Boom) Mancini fight March 6 in Reno, said: “It was appropriately held at the Manhattan offices of Warner Bros., the studio responsible for the animated exploits of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd and the rest of the gang.”

Sample dialogue:

Camacho: “I’m better looking than he is. I’m the Macho man. I never lost in my life. I’ll turn him into a pizza and give a slice to everybody.”

Mancini: “Turn the record over, man, it’s stuck. He runs like a dog and holds like a woman.”

Camacho: “I’d rather run than get beat up. I’ll come back with the cops.”

Mancini: “Aah, he’s a clown. He ain’t no rocket scientist, he’s a tap dancer.”

Camacho: “I’ll tap dance on his face.”

Said Matthews: “It was almost as good as those legendary feuds between Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote, and probably more entertaining than the fight will be.”

For What It’s Worth: When Charlie Hough of the Texas Rangers celebrates his birthday Jan. 5, he and fellow pitcher Nolan Ryan and pitching coach Tom House all will be 41. Ryan will turn 42 later in the month, and House in April.

Trivia Time: Speaking of Tom House, he is the answer to what trivia question? (Answer below.)

John Dennis, announcer on a Boston Celtics telecast, noting that 5-foot 3-inch Muggsy Bogues of the Charlotte Hornets was wearing low-cut sneakers: “He has to wear low-cuts. The hightops go over his knees.”

Texas basketball Coach Tom Penders, former coach at Rhode Island, on the support he has gotten since moving to Austin: “There’s no excuse if we don’t get it done. They’ve given us everything we’ve wanted.”

Including a new pair of cowboy boots for the coach.

“Ostrich,” said Penders. “They cost more than the car I was driving at Rhode Island.”

Trivia Answer: He was the Atlanta relief pitcher who caught Henry Aaron’s 715th home run in the Braves’ bullpen.

Quotebook

Minnesota Twins second baseman Wally Backman, formerly of the New York Mets, on playing in the Metrodome: “I could hit 3 or 4 home runs there. If I hit 5 or 6, they ought to condemn the place. If I don’t hit any, they ought to condemn me.”