Stabler Has a Plan to Keep the Silver and Black on Move

The Atlanta Journal asks the question, “What’s silver and black and floats all over?”

It’s the Raiders, of course, and former quarterback Ken Stabler was sought out for his thoughts on the question.

Said Stabler: “I wish Al Davis would get together with the city of Oakland and create that magic again. Now, people are talking about Sacramento, too. I guess Al could design a franchise that’s portable. You put everything on wheels, keep the same colors and just move it around.”

Add Davis: He’s called Mr. Intrigue by former NFL coach Sam Rutigliano, who went to school with Davis in Brooklyn.

“He even knows the serial number of the Unknown Soldier,” Rutigliano said.

Add Journal: TV columnist Prentis Rogers caught ESPN’s Cliff Drysdale in an unfortunate use of words at the French Open. Said Drysdale of Jimmy Connors’ fondness for the clay at Roland Garros Stadium: “He loves to come to this surface and expose himself.”

Trivia time: Who holds the National League record for most home runs in a season by a switch-hitter?

Not impressed: Bernie Kosar was less than thrilled when told that the Cleveland Browns had hired Bud Carson, the New York Jets’ defensive coordinator, as their new head coach.

Kosar: “I threw for over 400 yards against his defense. Why did they hire him?”

Homer or touchdown?The longest home run ever hit by Mickey Mantle? The most famous is the one at Griffith Stadium in Washington, measured at 565 feet, but Mantle says he’s hit at least three farther, including one at USC when the Yankees played the Trojans in the spring at old Bovard Field.

Mantle: “They say it went over 600 feet. The ball went across a football field that was adjacent to the baseball field.”

Add Mantle: Always bashful and shy, he told Phil Mushnick of the New York Post: “Ya know, Ted Williams is one of my idols. I was in complete awe of the man. Still am. I remember one time being down in the Florida Keys and I found the house he lived in. I started circling the block hoping he’d come out.

“I just drove around and around, hoping he’d step out for some reason. I’m kinda glad he didn’t, though, because I wouldn’t have known what to say. I’d have probably just driven off.”

Dodger dandies: From a column on Oakland Athletic slugger Dave Parker by Dave Newhouse of the Oakland Tribune: “Parker spent 11 years in the National League, where he said there was one team everyone disliked--the Dodgers.

“ ‘They were very arrogant, tried to be Hollywood,’ he explained.’ ”

Add Parker: When he was with the Pittsburgh Pirates, he said his idol was Willie Stargell. Said Stargell: “That’s pretty good, considering Dave’s previous idol was himself.”

Trivia answer: Howard Johnson, New York Mets, with 36 in 1987. The major league record is 54 by Mickey Mantle in 1961.

Quotebook: Bob Hope, on how to find former president Gerald Ford on the golf course: “Just follow the wounded.”