51�Թ�

She hoisted him up as one of Hollywood’s unheralded heroes, a brilliant quipster who quietly contributed his wit to everything from “Duck Soup” to “The Wizard of Oz.”

But his post-playing work as a TV pitchman and quipster defined his image.

Baseball at its essence is an exquisite, beautifully crafted game that, as a quipster once noted, has survived every attempt by the people in charge to ruin it.

So Barkley, the NBA Hall of Famer and nationally televised analyst and quipster, hung out with the Angels for their morning meeting, making jokes and telling stories.

We know what former NBA coach and prolific quipster Frank Layden would say about Tacko Fall, the Boston Celtics newest signee: "You can't teach height."