Good old dad gets an earful

Fathers and sons, they go at it sometimes.

They argue about careers. They argue about politics. They argue about whether Michael Vick is a good enough passer to ever play in a Super Bowl.

Atlanta Falcons Coach Jim Mora Jr. remains touchy to criticism about his quarterback, especially when it comes from his father, Jim, a football analyst for Fox Sports Radio.

After Vick passed for a career-high four touchdowns in Atlanta’s 41-38 victory over Pittsburgh last Sunday, the subject came up again during an interview session that included both Moras and “Fox NFL GameTime� Sunday host Dan Moriarty.

Moriarty asked the Falcons’ coach if he viewed Vick’s performance as “maybe a growth of the passing game?�

Mora Jr.: I don’t. I think you guys make too much of it. You guys talk about what Michael can’t do; I talk about what he can do. I leave that to you and my dad and all the rest of the media to talk about. You guys deal with that, I deal with wins and losses.

Mora Sr.: Oh boy.

Mora Jr.: You opened a can.

Mora Sr.: What can?

Mora Jr.: You know what I’m talking about.

Mora Sr. (trying to calm the situation): Well, Michael throws for four touchdown passes, he’s never thrown four touchdown passes in his career. It’s got to make you happy when he can come out and have a performance like that, doesn’t it?

Mora Jr. (not calmed in the least): You know when I’m happy? I’m happy when the Atlanta Falcons win. I don’t care if we win by one, three, 40; if we rush for 200, pass for nothing. I don’t care. I like to win football games, that’s all that matters to me. Somebody taught me that. I think you’re sitting next to him, Dan.

Trivia time

The winning manager of this World Series will join Sparky Anderson as the only managers to have won in both leagues. How many managers have lost the World Series in both leagues?

Clipboard. Whistle. Flak jacket?

More evidence that Philadelphia’s reputation for being a tough sports town is well earned:

Philadelphia police reported Sunday that a father pulled a gun on a youth football coach because the father didn’t think his son was getting enough playing time.

Wayne Derkotch, 40, was charged with aggravated assault and other offenses after drawing a gun while arguing with the coach during a game of 6- and 7-year olds.

Police also reported that a referee accused of throwing a punch at a man was arrested on assault charges.

Beat the Kings, be a star!

The NHL is honoring three players each week as its stars of the week.

And what does it take to become one of the league’s three stars?

Playing goaltender against the Kings.

Dallas goalie Marty Turco was a Week 1 star after defeating the Kings twice.

Ducks goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere was a Week 2 star after beating the Kings in a shootout.

Trivia answer

Four. Joe McCarthy lost with the 1929 Cubs (National League) and 1942 Yankees (American League), Dick Williams lost with the 1967 Red Sox (AL) and 1984 Padres (NL), Yogi Berra lost with the 1964 Yankees (AL) and 1973 Mets (NL), and Tony La Russa lost with the 1988 and 1990 A’s (AL) and the 2004 Cardinals (NL).

And finally

From David Letterman’s Top Ten Signs a Baseball Player Is Cheating:

“10. Tested positive for uranium.

“9. Always asking fans for clean urine.

“8. After each win, receives congratulatory phone call from BALCO founder, Victor Conte.

“7. Name on back of his uniform is Bonds.

“4. Somehow got three RBIs during the seventh-inning stretch.

“2. Pete Rose called him a disgrace to the game.�

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