They Said It

? Sparky Lyle, now a Texas Ranger reliever, on his Yankee World Series ring: "I wanted to find out if the diamond was for real, so I cut the glass on my coffee table with it. Then I found out the coffee table was worth more than the ring."

? Joe Axelson, Kansas City Kings president, on the burden of NBA coaches: "The woods are full of general managers, ticket sellers, owners, but not coaches. People who can survive in this league, get on those planes, coach a kids' game and retain their sanity are very rare—just like a day in June."