No. 1 Question for Robinson: Can Trojans Defeat Wildcats?

Is it good to be the early No. 1?

The question was put to USC Coach John Robinson, amid reports his team will be ranked No. 1 in Sports Illustrated’s preseason football issue.

“Ask me after the Arizona game,� he quipped. USC opens at home against San Jose State and Houston, then travels to Tucson for an expected tough match with Arizona.

The same question was put to Arizona’s Dick Tomey, whose team was ranked first by SI a year ago.

The Wildcats won four in a row before losing to Colorado State. They finished 8-4, including a Freedom Bowl loss to Utah.

“All things considered, it was very positive for our program,� Tomey said.

“I’m not sure it means the same to SC because they’ve been there before. We had never even been considered for that realm--in any sport. But we didn’t handle it very well. I feel our team underachieved, and that was the coaches’ responsibility.

“Basically, it didn’t get us any points, and it motivated opponents.�

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Trivia time: What city represents the largest market in the country with only one big league pro team?

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Slower parade: Hale Irwin, describing the difference between the PGA’s regular tour and senior tour:

“On the regular tour, you miss a shot and 50 guys go by you. Miss two and a hundred go by. Here [the seniors], at least, you can count the ones who go by you.�

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Mr. Class: Michael Robelli of Redondo Beach, a Chicago White Sox fan, wrote a letter months back to the club complaining about the players’ strike but added he’d forgive all if the Sox would send him an autographed ball.

He received the following reply, from Rob Gallas, White Sox marketing vice president:

“Dear Mr. Robelli:

“We receive thousands of letters every year from all over the country. Many are outrageous. Congratulations! Your letter made it to the top of the list.

“So you want an autographed ball and you will return to baseball.

“Please, do us a favor. Stay away. We’re going to be doing a lot for our fans, but bribery isn’t one of them.

“At least you named your price. You aren’t a member of the players’ union, are you?�

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Obstructed view: Officially, Denver’s Coors Field has 50,249 seats. There are actually two more seats, but if you wind up with them, shame on you.

The Denver Post’s Chance Conner recently toured the stadium’s pokey--two holding cells beneath the left-field scoreboard.

Conner said the cells were “the size of walk-in closets,� with steel doors, shatter-proof windows and a metal bench. And you can’t see the game.

Most common inmates: Fans who have had too much to drink and/or those who are “unruly and bothering other people,� a security spokesman said.

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Find ‘em & fine ‘em: John Steigerwald, in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, thinks there should be an investigation of all the architects who designed those 1960s stadiums:

“Why should anybody be surprised that ballparks like Three Rivers Stadium become so unpopular and outmoded so quickly?

“How could so many people in so many cities have been stupid enough to build stadiums better suited for eight or 10 football games than 80 or 90 baseball games?�

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Trivia answer: Sacramento (whose metropolitan area includes Stockton and Modesto), according to the Sacramento Bee. Each of the 16 larger metropolitan areas in the country has at least three of the big four--NFL, NBA, NHL or major league baseball. Eleven smaller markets have two.

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Quotebook: Detroit Tiger Manager Sparky Anderson, greeting reporters after Detroit and Texas played a two-hour, 1-0 game Wednesday: “You guys are about an hour and 15 minutes too early.�