They Said It

? Oscar Gamble, Yankee outfielder, at an off-day workout ordered by owner George Steinbrenner the morning after a 13-inning loss to the A's: " Ernie Banks is the only person who would have been happy to be here."

? Len Elmore, New Jersey Nets center, on the difficulties he faced upon enrolling at Power Memorial Academy, the New York City parochial school previously attended by Lew Alcindor: "There were the inevitable comparisons from Day One. But they ended on Day Two."

? Lou Campanelli, coach of the James Madison University basketball team, which had a 24-6 record in 1981-82 and qualified for the NCAA tournament, explaining his team's success: "Our players know what a good shot is and what a bad shot is. They're not allowed to watch NBA games, or they wouldn't know the difference."

?Gord Racette, heavyweight boxer, upon being KO'd by Trevor Berbick 11 months after having been KO'd by Jimmy Young: "Young paralyzed the left side of my face, Berbick the right. This is not what I had in mind."