Spud Webb Weaves a New Story

Spud Webb says he was only kidding when he said he hadn’t yet read his autobiography, which has just been published.

In a letter to The Times, the Atlanta guard says in part, “If you know me, you know I am a little shy. I said what I said because it’s always seemed a little strange to me that people would want to read about a short, black 24-year-old. Yes, I’ve had a kind of interesting life--but a whole book about me? It still blows my mind.

“In the meantime, I think I’ll stop trying to be funny and telling people I haven’t read the book. Moses Malone says it’s a good ‘short story.’ Funny guy.”

Ouch: From Steve Jacobson of Newsday: “Nobody put shoe polish in Darryl Strawberry’s cap in spring training. Neither did anyone put a bee in his bonnet or anywhere else in his uniform, or he would have won the most-valuable-player award instead of Kirk Gibson.

“It was Gibson who had the polish smeared in his cap one hot day in spring training, and the man threw a tantrum. When Strawberry is angry, which is often hard to determine, he pouts.”

Add Gibson: Anyone notice that the last Dodger to be voted MVP also was a football player from Michigan State? He was Steve Garvey in 1974.

Trivia Time: Who sacked USC quarterback Scott Tinsley on a 2-point conversion attempt to preserve UCLA’s 20-19 victory over the Trojans in 1982? (Answer to follow.)

For the Record: Trivia buff Bill Doner of Las Vegas, correcting an item on UCLA’s 1954 national championship football team, notes that Primo Villaneuva, not Paul Cameron, was the tailback.

Notre Dame Coach Lou Holtz, opposing playoffs, said he would determine the national champion after the bowl games by matching the No. 1 and No. 2 teams as chosen by computer. He didn’t say whose computer.

Funny thing is, although Notre Dame currently tops both wire service polls, it is ranked No. 4 in the computer ratings of both the New York Times and USA Today. USC and UCLA are 1-2 in the New York Times, and Miami and USC are 1-2 in USA Today.

It was a forgettable performance, and obviously Dan Reeves has forgotten.

“We were down, 45-10, at the half against the Colts?” the Denver coach said. “Are you kidding? For real? 45-10? Thank God for a short memory. No wonder I was so upset with the officials.”

Indianapolis won, 55-23.

From San Francisco 49ers Coach Bill Walsh: “I think Steve Young may be the fastest quarterback ever to play in the T formation.”

He probably could get some bets in Philadelphia. Who do you like, Young or Randall Cunningham?

From Will McDonough of the Boston Globe: “The trade of the year may be Art Still to Buffalo for a fifth-round draft choice to Kansas City.

“If Still is not in the Pro Bowl it will be a joke,” Buffalo General Manager Bill Polian said. “He is playing as well as, if not better, than he did with the Chiefs when he made the Pro Bowl several times.”

Trivia Answer: Karl Morgan.

Quotebook

Former Cleveland Indians pitcher Jim Kern: “The first thing they do in Cleveland if you have talent is trade you for three guys who don’t.”