Ryan Follows in Allen Footsteps

Buddy Ryan isn’t the first defensive coordinator to leave the Chicago Bears for a head coaching job. George Allen left to become head coach of the Rams a couple of years after the Bears beat the New York Giants, 14-10, for the NFL title in 1963.

Allen was as popular then as Ryan is now. After the title win, the Bears gave him the game ball and serenaded him with a ribald song in the dressing room.

When the Rams announced the hiring of Allen, Bear owner George Halas tried to prevent him from leaving, charging Ram owner Dan Reeves with tampering. Halas even took the case to court. The court ruled that Allen had indeed breached his contract, but Halas, having won his point, decided to give Allen his release.

In 1965, the Bears finished 9-5 and the Rams 4-10. In 1966, the first season after Allen’s move to Los Angeles, the Bears finished 5-7-2 and the Rams 8-6.

Writes Joe Gergen of Newsday: “The Rams hosted the Bears in the second game of the season and rallied for a 31-17 victory. Halas walked off the field without shaking Allen’s hand.

“Indeed, the old man never forgave his assistant leaving a job that paid $19,000 for the $40,000 position with the Rams. At one league meeting, he was railing on and on about Allen’s opportunism, his lying, cheating and scheming, when, it was reported, Vince Lombardi leaned toward Reeves and said, ‘Sounds like you’ve got yourself a hell of a coach.’ ”

Would-you-believe-it Dept.: Fran Tarkenton, just named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, not only holds virtually every career passing record but he also rolled up 3,674 yards in rushing. Dave Anderson of the New York Times points out that Tarkenton’s rushing total exceeds that of five Hall of Fame running backs--Frank Gifford, Charley Trippi, Tuffy Leemans, Tony Canadeo and George McAfee.

Trivia Time: What are the first names of the following members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame: Tuffy Leemans, Bulldog Turner, Dutch Clark, Ace Parker. (Answer below.)

Darryl Dawkins can’t understand it. “I keep looking in the NBA Guide,” the New Jersey center said, “and I don’t have 10,000 points yet. They must be taking points away.”

Said Net assistant coach Paul Silas: “Darryl Dawkins is the rawest 11-year veteran I’ve ever seen.”

Kiss-of-death Dept.: “I really believe this kid is the next Jerry West,” said ESPN’s Dick Vitale as North Carolina freshman Jeff Lebo entered Thursday night’s game against Virginia.

Lebo proceeded to go 0 for 9, capping it with an air ball, which earned him the rest of the night off.

How revered is Wayne Gretzky in Canada? Writes Bob Sudyk of the Hartford Courant: “He once told a young woman that she was truly beautiful. She fainted right on the spot.”

Edmonton Oilers broadcaster Rod Phillips recalled appearing with Gretzky in a Winnipeg shopping mall.

“There were some 6,000 on hand. And when I told the group that I traveled with Wayne, a woman lifted her ill infant for me to touch.”

“I told her, ‘I only know Wayne. If your son is sick, I can’t do anything for him. I’m not the Pope.’ ”

Trivia Answer: Alphonse (Tuffy) Leemans, Clyde (Bulldog) Turner, Earl (Dutch) Clark, Clarence (Ace) Parker.

Quotebook

Steve Sabol of NFL Films, calling Dick Butkus the best player he’s seen in 30 years of watching films: “He was like Moby Dick in a goldfish bowl.”