With Product to Sell, He’s Knight Lite

How do you know when Bob Knight is acting? Has to be when he’s nice.

Knight shows his, well, sweet side in a new television ad for a sugar substitute. As the TV spot goes, Knight watches players bumble through practice and says it is time for him to enjoy things like “picnics” and “puppies.”

After a player falls asleep, Knight asks nicely: “Mitchell, would you like to play now?”

After a player conks Knight in the head with a basketball, Knight smiles.

Great, but isn’t there some rule about truth in advertising?

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Trivia time: Who holds the NFL record for the most fumbles in a game?

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Rest in peace: Harvey Williams of the out-of-the-playoffs Oakland Raiders apparently can’t believe what happened: “If I had bet my life the season could end like this, I guess I’d be dead by now.”

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Money news: According to the Atlanta Journal and Constitution, the players from the 36 schools in the 18 Division I-A football bowl games will earn about $98,860,000 for their universities and conferences.

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Smart talk: From Todd Phipers of the Denver Post: “Dumb and dumber--Al Davis, who ran off Marcus Allen from the Raiders, and Buddy Ryan, who cut Cris Carter when Ryan was head coach of the Eagles.”

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And that’s loud: Think there are a few people who like to see the Dallas Cowboys lose? Ron Green of the Charlotte Observer says it’s absolutely true.

“Three losses in four games raised the decibels to levels that sound like John Madden’s family reunion,” Green said.

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By George: Phyllis George, the former Miss America and NFL studio fixture, was a guest participant in last week’s Psychic Hotline in the Denver Post--picking NFL games.

George was 8-4, better than all six of the Post sportswriters in the same poll.

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Good choice: Shane Bertsch, who earned his PGA Tour card by finishing fourth at qualifying school, chose golf over tennis when he was a teenager after one particular tennis match.

“I got smoked,” Bertsch said. “I decided right then to concentrate on golf.”

The teenage tennis player who made up Bertsch’s mind for him was Andre Agassi.

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Trivia answer: Len Dawson of the Kansas City Chiefs with seven.

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Quotebook: Danny Schayes, oft-traveled backup center, now with the Miami Heat, after playing 41 minutes in a victory: “That was a good month for me last year.”