Indoor running, especially on a cramped, 11-lap to the mile track such as the Garden's, was special. You had to be kind of a roughneck. Experienced runners seldom tried to pass on a turn. There were guys such as Pitt's Mel Barnwell, who was wide and muscular, a perfect indoor runner, who never would let anybody by him on a turn. And the Pioneers were terrific in the Garden.

Forgive my memory. I seem to remember Browne taking the stick from George Rhoden and passing off to Mal Whitfield, who gave it to Herb McKenley for the anchor leg. Browne was the only non-Olympic gold medalist on that great team, but he was a sturdy runner who seldom gave up his position. Are there any old time track fans out there who remember the exact lineup? Did he ever run for the Grand Street Boys as well? Was Reggie Pearman of NYU ever on the relay team with him? Help me out. This was 50 years ago, or more. Memory dims. That's what I wanted to talk to him about, but I blew it, and now he's gone. It's sad.

Sorry for the long divergence from the NFL, but that is why they call it the offseason, right? Chris of Jacksonville (and thank you) wonders if there really is truth to the statement that practicing against a unit that excels will impart a measure of excellence to the unit that has to face it every day. It's logical, but I'd say that where it really applies is in the area of toughness. A defensive unit that faces a team with a tough running game usually is good in stopping the run. And vice-versa. But I think this formula breaks down in the passing game. I mean when the Rams were The Greatest Show on Turf, their pass defense unit wasn't particularly dominating. Ditto the Colts in the Peyton Manning era.

Let's get the Hall of Fame stuff out of the way. Were Jim Marshall and Bob Hayes kept out of the Hall because of off the field issues, asks Joe V. of Round Rock, Texas. Not that I heard, based on discussions in the room, but we never know what's in someone's heart, do we? And thanks for what you said in appreciation of the Flaming Redhead's little known film career. No, just kidding. I could see her in the movies, though, as a Meryl Streep type, always one step ahead of the smartasses. I'm really thanking you for three decades as a loyal reader.

Darryl of Silver Spring, Md., wants to know why Jimmy Johnson is never mentioned for the Hall. First of all there are Landry loyalists in the room who might resent him. Secondly, the argument that I've heard is, yes, he was a winner, but what were his lasting contributions to the game, his innovations? My answer to that is that he brought to perfection the idea of the coach as personnel expert, very unusual in this era of specialization. Yes, I think he belongs.

"What's the finest beer you've ever had?" asks Stefan of San Jose. "Don't go back to that one from Alsace that's not around anymore," says the Redhead. Sorry, honey, the gentleman did say "ever had," in other words all time, in other words it doesn't have to be current. The answer is Ancre Biere from Alsace. Great in Alsace itself, not as great in Paris. "Some beers just don't travel that well," a bartender told me. It was malty and nutty. "Just like you," says Linda, and I don't really deserve that.

"Why do you dislike the Raiders so much?" asks Steve of Dudley, Mass. "It shows constantly in your articles." I don't dislike them. It's just that ... how can I put this? It's like having a son you were once very proud of. A little rough at times, but he struggled and achieved and overcame a lot. Many people were against him. And then he just gave up. You look at him and you see a slouching person, nearing middle age, hair thinning, cigarette smoke staining his fingers, talking out of the side of his mouth, continually lying. Is this really your son? Well, yeah, and you still love him underneath it all. You just don't enjoy being around him.

Dave of Milwaukee, where a quarterback named Favre held the clipboard until an injury sidelined the starter, Don Majkowski, asks an old question that never really has been adequately answered. Is a rookie QB's learning curve improved by watching and waiting or by jumping into the arena right away, possibly to get the hell knocked out of him, a fate that befell poor David Carr in Houston? Well, Dave, I'd like to give you an easy answer, but the longer I'm around the game, the more difficult the answer becomes. All I can tell you is that it really depends on the person, how brave he is, how quickly he can learn, whether or not he can take a punch. And it also depends on how bad...truthfully speaking...is the offensive line you want him to play behind. There is no QB who ever lived, unless they decided to change Lyle Alzado's M.O., who could have survived much better than Carr did in that meat grinder in Houston. Ideally I'd say let a young guy sit for a while, but circumstances don't always obey.