They Said It

? Bob Lanier, Milwaukee Buck center, literally bowing at the feet of Forward Marques Johnson on the latter's return to the team last week after signing a $1-million-a-year contract to end a protracted holdout: "He's rich, he's cute and, thank God, he's back."

?Ray Gandolf, TV sports correspondent, of the 39-year-old Muhammad Ali: "He floats like an anchor, stings like a moth."

? Joe Kapp, former NFL quarterback, on being hired as the Cal football coach despite having no previous coaching experience: " Howard Cosell coaches 28 NFL teams every week, so I figure I can coach one college team."