This Team Was Snakebit Right From the Start

The Dallas Texans, not the Cowboys, were the first NFL franchise in the state, in 1952. The Texans had a brief history, lasting only one year and posting a 1-11 record.

George Young, now the New York Giants’ general manager, was a member of the team before he was cut. He recalled the club’s training camp in Kerrville, Tex.

“We had this equipment manager, Willie Garcia, who had never seen a football game in his life,” Young told the Dallas Morning News. “He had one wooden leg. When they kicked a ball into the high grass, no one wanted to go after it because of snakes. Willie would volunteer. He’d say, ‘I’ve got a 50-50 chance the snake will go for the wrong leg.’ ”

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Add Texans: When the club failed to draw, the franchise was turned back to the league in mid-season. The NFL operated it for the rest of the year as a traveling team. The Texans then were replaced in 1953 by the Baltimore Colts.

An American Football League franchise became the Dallas Texans in 1960, later relocating in Kansas City as the Chiefs.

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Trivia time: Who holds the NBA record for most free throws made in a season?

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Bad timing: When Scott Hastings, the journeyman Denver Nugget center, was followed recently by a Life magazine reporter and photographer for a future article, it was poor timing. Hastings had a huge cold sore.

“I finally get my day in the sun and I’ve got a Buick on my lip,” he said ruefully.

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Ice follies: The sports staff of the Bakersfield Californian tried to see how many tongue-in-cheek headlines could be written about the new Disney-owned NHL expansion franchise in Anaheim. A sampling:

Mice on Ice. A Goofy Idea. Whistle While You Fight. Donald, Duck! 101 Zambonis. When You Wish Up a Scar.

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Turnover: Billy Joe Hobert, the University of Washington quarterback who was declared ineligible after borrowing $50,000 in violation of NCAA rules, used some of the money to buy a 1992 Camaro.

The car was recently stolen outside his home in Kent, Wash. Police said the thief vandalized it, then spray-painted a message on it: “You can’t afford this B.J.”

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Belt bandit: Crisanto Espana was supposed to get a handsome belt that goes with winning the World Boxing Assn. welterweight championship. The ceremony was called off recently in Caracas, Venezuela, because the belt was stolen in an armed robbery.

Espana, who won the title by defeating Meldrick Taylor on Oct. 31, wasn’t the only victim. Two other belts also were stolen when Simon Rasquin, a Venezuelan boxing official, was held up as he left his Caracas home. The belts were valued at $4,000.

Tip to Espana: Try a pawn-shop.

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Eggs in last: Center Jay Hilgenberg of the Cleveland Browns, who formerly played for the Chicago Bears, on players’ reactions to Bear Coach Mike Ditka:

“Be a man. You have to have tough skin. If you have thin skin, go bag groceries.”

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Frozen franchise: The Baltimore Orioles moved so slowly in pursuit of free agents last week that John Eisenberg of the Baltimore Sun called them “the official ice sculpture of the winter meetings.”

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Trivia answer: Jerry West, of the Lakers, with 840 in 1965-66.

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Quotebook: Comedian Tom Dreesen, at a sports-awards dinner in Chicago: “I’m not saying that the Bears are playing bad football this season, but the Pope just ripped up a picture of Mike Ditka.”