http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/18/nyregion/metropolitan-diary-chauffeur-service-for-a-second-string-qb.html 2016-09-19 02:49:59 Chauffeur Service for a Second-String QB The starter goes down, and a backup is liberated from his usual long subway ride. === Dear Diary: In the mid-1970s, I played football in the Bronx for the Warriors. Our home field was Rice Stadium in Pelham Bay Park. I was a running back. In 1974, our starting quarterback, Jackie, sprained his ankle. Our second-string quarterback was our center. The team didn’t have a No. 3 quarterback. Jay and Danny, our coaches, knew I threw a solid option pass from the halfback position. They named me second-string quarterback, and I started taking snaps at practice. I lived in Queens then and lugged my 35-pound duffel bag to the Bliss Street station to ride the No. 7 line into Grand Central and then took the No. 6 local 27 stops. I did this three times a week, twice for practice, once for the game. Jackie’s prognosis: out at least 2 to 3 weeks. After the first practice without him, Jay and Danny saw me walking across the field toward the No. 6 station. “Hey,” they yelled, “come back here, let’s go.” I followed them to the parking lot and Jay’s Oldsmobile Delta 88. They sat in front; I took over the back seat. I was surprised Jay wasn’t mad, because I was filthy and so was my bag. They yelled at me, busted my chops. I was having regular conversations with them as if I was one of their pals. They drove me all the way home, 46th Street and Skillman Avenue in Sunnyside. As they pulled away I felt odd, then I got it: They were making sure their second-string quarterback took it easy. The next week, same ride on Tuesday, Thursday and game day. I didn’t miss the subway. For the first game he couldn’t play, Jackie showed up on crutches; the next game, he was limping and had a cane. On the third Tuesday, I was late to practice. I looked on the field, and there was Jackie, under center taking snaps. No Delta 88 that night. The No. 3 QB was back on the train.