Troy Aikman

The Cowboy Connection. Walt Garrison, former Dallas Cowboys fullback, used to make a tidy little sideline income plugging smokeless tobacco. Today the Cowboys' rookie quarterback (Troy Aikman) gives a silent endorsement for chewing tobacco every time he appears in a postgame interview. Or is this just a pinch of bubblegum between his gum and lip? I wonder how well he'll be able to call signals with cancer of the mouth. Spit it out, Troy, before it's too late. BOB BRIGHAM, Manhattan Beach

Although UCLA quarterback Troy Aikman has indicated he would prefer to start his professional career at a warm-weather city, Green Bay Packer officials said Wednesday they will select him if they get the first pick in next spring's National Football League draft. "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," said Tom Braatz, Packers vice president of Aikman's desire to play in a warmer climate.

When you consider what he did Saturday and has done all year, you would consider that quality quarterback Troy Aikman cost the UCLA Bruins a bundle in terms of man-hours needed to recruit him, plane trips to his home in Oklahoma, expensive dinners, a lot of heavy begging from Coach Terry Donahue, maybe a few sweet somethings whispered in his ear by devoted alumni, a protracted expensive courtship. All Terry Donahue had to do was answer the phone.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman says don't write him off just yet. His separated right shoulder feels much better, and he wants a second opinion about surgery. Coach Jimmy Johnson, however, still expects to place Aikman on injured reserve Friday. Aikman, who was hurt in Sunday's loss at Philadelphia, put off a decision Wednesday regarding surgery because he said the pain and swelling in the shoulder had subsided and its mobility had increased.

Whether or not USC's Rodney Peete or UCLA's Troy Aikman wins the Heisman Trophy Saturday at the Downtown Athletic Club in New York, the quarterbacks are still candidates for another award. The American Football Coaches Assn. is countering the Heisman with its own award this year. It's called the Coaches' Choice, honoring college football's most valuable player.

Enough is enough! I am tired of reading the negative comments about Terry Donahue. You would think that after seven consecutive bowl victories and concurrent higher rankings than its cross-town rival, Donahue would be excused for having an off-year. Troy Aikman recently described Donahue as the consummate college coach. Aikman also implied that when a team is losing, the animals come out of the woodwork. I think it is time for the animals to get back into their cages and hibernate until next season.

In this age of media hype, the ones who suffer most are the athletes. Troy Aikman is a perfect example. He was penned the Heisman favorite before the year started. As it stands now, he is not even the best quarterback in Los Angeles (see Rodney Peete, USC) and far from the best quarterback in the nation (see Major Harris, West Virginia). I would like to see Heisman Trophy publicity put to an end before the winner (see Barry Sanders, Oklahoma State) is announced. KEVIN KLEIN Phillips Ranch

"It's a shame," Troy Aikman said, "that this game has taken on so much importance, a shame that a fine team like the Bills probably will be taking so much abuse after such a fine year." Pro football's new golden boy, a walking bubble gum card, was speaking from the heart. Which is exactly where Troy and the Cowboys shot the Bills of Buffalo Sunday in the shadow of the San Gabriel mountains. PETER FINNEY New Orleans Times-Picayune