Pisarcik still gets worst of this exchange

Thirty years have passed, and Joe Pisarcik still can't catch a break.

On Nov. 19, 1978, Pisarcik was quarterbacking the New York Giants to an apparent victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, running out the clock, when he fumbled a handoff to Larry Csonka. Eagles cornerback Herman Edwards recovered and returned the ball 26 yards for a touchdown that gave Philadelphia an improbable victory -- and Pisarcik headaches when he attends a sports autograph show.

He recalled signing autographs once with other retired NFL players when an older man walked up and exclaimed, "Hey, you were the 'Miracle at the Meadowlands' guy."

"He was a nice guy," Pisarcik told the Associated Press. "He probably didn't mean any harm. I said, 'Oh, I hadn't heard that one all day today. Glad you brought that to my attention. Thank you for sharing.' He looks at me like I've got four eyes.

"Then there was the guy who just walked up to me and said, 'You're the guy who fumbled the ball! You're the guy who fumbled the ball!'

"I told him, 'When I was your age I was the starting quarterback for the New York Giants of the National Football League. What are you doing?' "

Today, Pisarcik works on Wall Street, selling bonds in economically troubled times.

"Yeah," he said, "there's another fumble."

• MELLOW 'MELO AND FRIENDS -- LeBron James' street cred took a hit when he admitted to teammates that he listens to Barry Manilow music.

The Web site for Cleveland radio station WTAM-AM 1100 reported that in the Cleveland Cavaliers' locker room Thursday, it was mentioned that James' longtime friend Carmelo Anthony admitted last year that he had Manilow music on his iPod.

James said he probably had some Manilow, too -- though he caused teammates to laugh when he mistakenly referred to the singer as "Brian Manilow."

James dug out his iPod and unveiled evidence -- Manilow tunes "Copacabana," "Mandy" and "I Am Your Child." But then James switched back to listening to rap star Jay-Z.

• PLENTY OF BITE -- Jacksonville Jaguars running back and former UCLA star Maurice Jones-Drew, on a Los Angeles area radio station talking about the difference between Los Angeles and Jacksonville: "In L.A. you have the high life and Hollywood. In Jacksonville, you have alligators."

• SOBERING THOUGHT -- Bills tackle Langston Walker, to the Buffalo (N.Y.) News, when asked if a three-game losing streak had a sobering effect on the team: "I didn't think we were drunk."

• FLAW OF AVERAGES -- Orlando Magic swingman Mickael Pietrus is the consummate NBA player. He stands 6 feet 6 inches (the NBA average is 6 feet 6.88), weighs 215 pounds (218.52), turns 27 in February (26.85) and has played five full NBA seasons (4.74).

Just one problem, noted Gary Loewen of the Toronto Sun: "He is also from Guadalupe."

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