"There is no downside for us."
-- NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, on the NFL's TV deals worth a
total of $17.6B (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 1/14).
"We weren't ambushed. We were given a number, decided that
number was reckless folly, and we walked away."
-- NBC Sports President Dick Ebersol, on the net's decision to
lose the AFC football package (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 1/15).
"I thought I was going to be talking about sports with you."
-- O.J. Simpson, off-camera at the conclusion of an "Up Close"
interview in which host Chris Myers discussed Simpson's case for
the entire show (THE DAILY).
"I don't care how much they pay me,
I'm not saying 'I'm going to Disney World.'"
-- Broncos coach Mike Shanahan, on Disney's $30,000 offer to
become the first coach to be in a post-Super Bowl Disney
commercial (DENVER POST, 1/22).
"I'd rather meet Boris Yeltsin."
-- Red Wings C Igor Larionov, on the team's visit to the White
House to meet President Clinton (TORONTO SUN, 1/30).
"We used to build battleships for less
than what an NFL team costs."
-- Tom Clancy, on his agreement to buy the Vikings for $200-206M
(Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 2/4).
"I'd like to thank the children of Asia for making all those damn
shoes for me, and a hell of a lot of money, no kidding."
-- Bill Murray, acting as "Michael Jordan," while accepting
Jordan's ESPY for Best Men's Pro Basketball Player (ESPN, 2/10).
"The good news is it's on free television. The bad news is
commercials have to run, and you've got to trust morons like me
to decide when to put the commercials in."
-- CBS Sports Olympic Exec Producer Rick Gentile, on criticism of
the net's coverage of the Opening Ceremonies (Balt. SUN, 2/11).
"The public, I think, has spoken. The courts have spoken.
You'd think they'd get it."
-- Casey Martin, on the PGA Tour's intention to appeal the ruling
in the golf cart case ("CNN/SI," 2/11).
"The biggest waste of time. Ever."
-- Team USA's Keith Tkachuk, on his Olympic experience, following
Team USA's loss to the Czech Republic (CBS, 2/18).
"The good news is that it's going to hurt NBC
next time more than it's hurting us."
-- CBS TV President Les Moonves, on the drop in Olympic ratings
(Mult., 2/21).
"I'm glad you're doing this story on us and not on the WNBA.
We're so much prettier than all the other women in sports."
-- Martina Hingis, to a reporter doing a story on WTA Tour
players (DETOUR, 3/98 issue).
"It brought me out of my coma on the couch.
Dude, they had home and away. It was awesome."
-- Phillies IF Rex Hudler, on Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff
appearing at the Grammy Awards in Phillies jerseys
(PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 2/27).
"You can go over anybody's life and find pock marks.
You can turn over (dirt) on anyone if you dig deep enough,
if that's what you're out to do."
-- Then-prospective NHL Oilers investor Michael Largue,
responding to reports that he misrepresented his past
(EDMONTON SUN, 3/4).
"I don't like MTV. Our league is going MTV
and that's what's wrong with it."
-- Pacers Coach Larry Bird, after answering questions for an MTV
crew (INDIANAPOLIS STAR-NEWS, 3/1).
"Now he knows how we feel when we buy
one of his fights on pay-per-view."
-- Jay Leno, after Don King was robbed in Mexico (NBC, 3/5).
"I've got to be the only three-time MVP
who has got to buy his own shoes."
-- Giants OF Barry Bonds, on not having a shoe contract following
a dispute with Nike (BASEBALL WEEKLY, 3/11).
"And yes, there were scalpers outside --
believed to be an ABL first."
-- The L.A. Times' Earl Gustkey, on Sunday's fifth and
deciding game of the ABL Finals in Columbus (L.A. TIMES, 3/16).
"We wanted a viable alternative for guys who don't want to see
how many sequins are on the winning gown."
-- Fox Sports President David Hill, on the net's decision to air
a boxing match against the Academy Awards (Baltimore SUN, 3/20).
"Don't make us clean your clocks again."
-- MLBPA Exec Dir Donald Fehr, responding in a letter to MLB's
Players Relations Committee, after owners gave one year's notice
on re-examining the future of the DH (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/29).
"'Cause it's One! Two! Three tons of falling concrete!"
-- David Letterman's No. 6 "New Yankee Slogan," after a 500 lb.
beam fell at Yankee Stadium ("Late Show," CBS, 4/20).
"At this point, I'll define local interest as North America."
-- NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, on wanting "local" buyers for
the Lightning, which was owned by Japan-based Kokusai Green at
the time (TAMPA TRIBUNE, 4/16).
"Miller kept the league afloat for many years
and the sponsors would go into a bar and the
players would be in there drinking Bud."
-- Steve Vanderpool, former PR counsel for Miller's past
sponsorship of the AVP, on tour players not understanding the
importance of sponsors (BRANDWEEK, 4/20 issue).
"I was in Vietnam. And the big payroll doesn't always win."
-- A's President Sandy Alderson, on whether the A's could compete
against clubs with higher payrolls (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 4/28).
"I've watched the Clippers do one silly thing after another. Do
you see David Stern doing anything about it?"
-- MLB Acting Commissioner Bud Selig, explaining his lack of
action over the Dodgers-Marlins trade (MIAMI HERALD, 5/16).
"How could you give $12 million to Hideki Irabu?!"
-- Frank Costanza, to George Steinbrenner, as the Yankees Owner
gave his testimony against the "New York Four"
in the "Seinfeld" series finale (NBC, 5/14).
"Trade me next."
-- Written on a paper bag over the head of a Marlins fan, who was
removed from the game (Ft. Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL, 5/21).
"I get really sick of turning on 'America's Most Wanted' or
'Cops' and seeing someone wearing our stuff being busted."
-- Raiders Dir of Marketing Morris Bradshaw (DENVER POST, 5/31).
"The jury in this trial was the greatest - and I've had so many."
-- Don King, after a Federal jury in Manhattan cleared him of
fraud charges yesterday (N.Y. POST, 7/10).
"The NBA lockout really doesn't matter.
I've been broke for three years in college,
so I definitely can wait a few more months."
-- Clippers No. 1 pick Michael Olowokandi (SACRAMENTO BEE, 7/21).
"I really don't know what they're fighting about.
I make good money and I'm happy with my life."
-- Shaquille O'Neal, on the NBA's labor dispute (AP, 7/25).
"Fox throws money around pretty good on sports,
but sometimes the mighty duck."
-- Phil Mushnick, after calling a Fox decision not to match ABC's
NHL bid a "sensible" move (N.Y. POST, 8/17).
"We'll make money. This is a marketing machine."
-- ABC Sports/ESPN President Steve Bornstein, on Disney's five-
year, $600M TV deal with the NHL (N.Y. TIMES, 8/26).
"I'd say there's a chance the Raiders could come back to L.A.
About the same chance of me getting pregnant."
-- NFL attorney Frank Rothman, on the team's desire to break its
lease in Oakland and move back to L.A. (L.A. TIMES, 8/23).
"All they need to know about me is that
I work my little heinie off."
-- Ravens Exec VP David Modell, asked in a magazine profile what
people need to know about him (BALTIMORE, 9/98 issue).
"People say it's bringing the country together. So be it.
I'm happy to bring the country together."
-- Mark McGwire, on breaking MLB's HR record (Mult., 9/8).
"It's a little like virginity. It can be preserved,
but not restored. If this community loses it,
you're not going to get it back."
-- Warren Buffett, to Buffalo's business leaders, on the prospect
of the city losing the Bills (BUFFALO NEWS, 9/10).
"I asked the Hurricanes which member of their staff would be at
the Rangers game to tell 75 angry New Yorkers that they couldn't
get in, even though there are seats available."
-- Greensboro Coliseum Managing Dir Matt Brown, on the team's
decision to reduce capacity from 21,000 to 11,500 this season
(Greensboro NEWS & RECORD, 9/14).
"They cheered when their own team took a penalty. They cheered
wildly for the first fight. They even cheered when the team
director of business operations was introduced."
-- Toronto Sun columnist Steve Simmons, on Nashville fans
welcoming their Predators (TORONTO SUN, 10/11).
"Sheer brilliance."
-- Keith Olbermann, on Rich Kotite's performance as a
basketball coach in the film, "New Jersey Turnpikes"
(SportsFan Radio Network, 10/23).
"They all look good. Let's just hope they have a lot of money."
-- Bills Owner Ralph Wilson, after hearing presentations by three
groups looking to land the NFL's 32nd team (L.A. TIMES, 10/28).
"As long as they don't test for alcohol,
because I do drink a little bit."
-- Cavs G Bobby Sura, on the NBA negotiating changes to its
substance testing policy (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 10/29).
"How are we going to find out Michael's innermost thoughts
without Ahmad's probing questions? How will journalism survive?"
-- Dick Schaap, on NBA players threatening to
boycott NBC and TNT (ESPN, 11/1).
"I never wanted to sign with Nike.
I had been an Adidas fanatic since high school."
-- Michael Jordan, in his book, "For The Love Of The Game."
"I'd do anything to help grow the sport.
I'd go disco dancing in Saran Wrap if it would help."
-- Gabrielle Reece, responding to criticism that she doesn't do
enough to support pro beach volleyball (L.A. TIMES, 11/15).
"Hard Work. No Pay. Long Hours. Better Hurry."
-- SLOC's print ad copy recruiting volunteers for events
leading up to the 2002 Winter Games (THE DAILY).
"I'm going to give tax (breaks) to some fat-ass millionaire and
screw our kids? You've got to be kidding."
-- MA House Speaker Thomas Finneran, on NFL owners seeking public
financing for stadiums (BOSTON HERALD, 11/19).
"The next time he may ask me to sit in the corner."
-- Bills Owner Ralph Wilson, on Paul Tagliabue's intention to
fine him for derogatory comments on officiating (Mult., 12/4).
"Perhaps they were too busy filming one of those
nice, slick promos they do, or they were getting
their tuxes fitted for the ESPYs."
-- MLS Commissioner Doug Logan, criticizing ESPN for not covering
DC United's win over a Brazil team in the InterAmerican Cup on
Saturday (K.C. STAR, 12/9).
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