USC 38, Notre Dame O

Hard to gauge this team.

I'm reminded that, years ago, during the baseball season, the Yankees and Mets would play an exhibition called the Mayor's Trophy Game. This was eventually cancelled when Steinbrenner--who was obsessed with beating the Mets anyway possible--would be furious at the Yankee manager for not starting a frontline pitcher, or for benching a starter or two.

Anyway, the game I'm thinking of was in 1978, which threatened to go into extra innings, at which point Yankee third baseman Graig Nettles announced to the dugout that, if it were the case, he would start heaving any grounder hit to him into the stands, just to get the damn thing over with.

Understand: these were the late-70s Mets, a team that would challenge their '62 forbears for title of worst team ever.

Anyway, that game was won by the Yankees, due to heroics by a rookie infielder Brian Doyle (who, come October, would have his moment in the Sun in place of regular second baseman Willie Randolph).

After the game, Sparky Lyle, who was writing a book about the season ("The Bronx Zoo," consult Amazon.com) remarked, "I guess we played well. But the Mets are so bad, who can say?"

Thought about that quote today.