THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 10, 1997 TAG: 9701100698
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Bob Molinaro
LENGTH: 59 lines
Heaven can wait: When you hear quarterback Mark Brunell and lineman Tony Boselli credit God for the Jacksonville Jaguars' unexpected ascent to the AFC title game, stop and ask yourself why the Almighty would want to pull against John Elway.
Stonewalled: NFL people are still buzzing about the blocking job Boselli did on ``our'' Bruce Smith in the Jags' playoff stunner against the Bills.
Weather or not: Don't see why frigid, windy conditions in Green Bay are a big advantage for the Packers. They train every day at an indoor facility.
Making noise: With its upset this week of 12th-ranked Xavier, Dayton scored its biggest basketball victory since former ODU coach Oliver Purnell took over the Flyers. Time will tell if this is a breakthrough or a fluke.
Day tripping: While joining the Norfolk Sports Club for lunch, Curtis Strange was asked, if he were to win one more tournament, which would he want to win? ``If I went with my heart, it would be The Masters,'' he said. ``If I went with my head, the British Open.'' He hasn't won either.
Strange bedfellows: Curtis isn't the first athlete to join the other side after a stormy relationship with the media. Besides the TV work for ABC, his byline will appear in Golf Magazine. Can't wait to see what he has to say in his second column. Working title: Are PGA Tour golfers spoiled?
Skinful: Now that Sports Illustrated is planning a magazine for women, can a men's swimsuit issue be far behind?
Details man: Since 1981, Carolina Panthers coach Dom Capers has kept a daily journal, recording his thoughts, words, deeds, and even what he has to eat.
For what it's worth: Patriots coach Bill Parcells could reach his third Super Bowl and I still wouldn't put him in a class with Joe Gibbs.
Dialogue: After New Jersey Nets center Shawn Bradley argued a foul call, referee Hue Hollins said, ``Don't use profanity on me.'' John Calipari, Bradley's coach, interceded, and said, ``He's a Morman. He doesn't swear.'' Shot back Hollins: ``I'm Baptist and I don't lie.''
Butterfly: Phil Niekro's election to the Hall of Fame reminded somebody that Bobby Murcer once described hitting against Niekro's knuckler as, ``Trying to eat Jell-O with chopsticks.''
Not adding up: Half of the 20 Division I-A football head coaching vacancies have been filled, with but one - New Mexico State - going to an African American. If you're keeping count, eight of the 110 I-A jobs are held by blacks.
Looking in: It would be easier to believe Lou Holtz when he says he wasn't pushed out the door at Notre Dame if he had a job waiting. Doesn't appear he does.
In passing: New York's baseball fans were so supportive of the Yankees last season that George Steinbrenner's team finished seventh in the American League in attendance.
Geography impaired: New Blue Jays pitcher Roger Clemens says, ``The thing I like most about Toronto is it's so much like Houston.'' Right. Like snakeskin boots are to snowshoes. MEMO: Write Bob Molinaro at 150 W. Brambleton Ave., Norfolk 23510; phone
him at 446-2373 or fax him at 533-9004.