Billy Ray Smith, Jr., was in Little Rock on Monday to be inducted into the Southwest Conference Hall of Fame for his collegiate career at the University of Arkansas.
But the future of the San Diego Chargers is on Smith's mind these days.
Smith, 54, was drafted fifth overall by the Chargers in the 1983 NFL Draft and spent his nine-year career (1983-1992) with the Southern California team. He remains in San Diego as a sports talk radio host and is married to San Diego TV anchor Kimberly Hunt.
The Chargers are one of three NFL teams -- the Oakland Raiders and St. Louis Rams being the others -- that are contemplating a move to the Los Angeles area, as early as next year. The franchise began in the AFL in 1959 in Los Angeles, but moved to San Diego in 1961 and became part of the NFL in 1970 when the AFL and NFL merged.
San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium, which opened in 1967, is considered obsolete by today's NFL standards and Chargers ownership has attempted to work with the city of San Diego to build a new stadium.
Smith said he doesn't believe the Chargers will move out of San Diego. He said he's seen the effort from team president Dean Spanos and organization and wants to believe they're working in good faith.
"They say they want to stay in San Diego," Smith said. "I believe them. I have no reason to doubt what he's saying. I also realize you have to do what you have to do. I hope they get their collective stuff together and come together to get some kind of agreement to stay in San Diego.
"The Chargers are part of our city. There would be a gigantic gap if they were to leave."
San Diego has been Smith's home for more than three decades. He arrived in San Diego when Don Coryell, whose offense was known as Air Coryell, utilizing quarterback Dan Fouts, wide receiver Charlie Joiner and tight end Kellen Winslow.
Smith said a deal will get done between the Chargers and the city of San Diego and the team will remain in San Diego.
"In the end, when people really sit down and think about it, they love, A, football and B, love the Chargers. Or maybe flip them around," Smith said. "They want it to stay. They want to be a big-time NFL city. You can't do that unless you have a big-time stadium and a big-time team."
On fire
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers suffered a defeat marked by fumbles, penalties and just one touchdown on Sunday, then authorities said a south Florida man tried to set the team's oversized flag on fire.
Tampa Police said the incident happened just after the New York Giants beat the Buccaneers 32-18 Sunday night. A caller said someone was attempting to torch the $26,000 flag outside the Bucs' corporate offices, near Raymond James Stadium. The red banner featuring a skull and two crossed cutlasses measures about 80 feet by 50 feet and hangs from a 15-story pole.
Police said the fire-retardant flag did not actually go up in flames, but a small part of it was damaged.
Daniel Justin Raboni, 32, of North Palm Beach, was charged with felony criminal mischief and marijuana possession.
He said it
From Brad Dickson of the Omaha World-Herald:
• "The then-2-5 Dallas Cowboys played on national TV Sunday night. Because after all, that's the law."
• "There's a high school sports program in Arizona called the Yuma Criminals. The nickname is Criminals. Was 'Convicted Felons' taken?"
• "A Memphis Grizzlies fan won free tater tots for life after hitting a half-court shot. This is a great prize except for the part about getting sick of tater tots by a week from Tuesday."
• "In college football, undefeated Iowa is off to such a good start, look for Kirk Ferentz to get the 'until the end of time' contract extension."
• "It was a huge recruiting weekend for the Nebraska football team. I picture Husker coaches and boosters telling visiting recruits: 'Yes, every game this season has been this much fun.' "
Sports on 11/10/2015