For Williams' sake, good thing there was no 'statue' of limitations

Seems like just about anyone can get a statue in sports these days.

They're handed out with little forethought, given to owners, broadcasters, coaches, managers, commissioners, beer vendors, and players who haven't scaled hall of fame walls.

But sometimes there is justice, and in the case of Cubs legend Billy Williams, the honor is long overdue.

Williams has often been forgotten within the hierarchy of great Cubs players, overshadowed in the last 50 years of Cubs lore by teammates Ernie Banks, Fergie Jenkins and Ron Santo, and in later years by Ryne Sandberg, Andre Dawson and Greg Maddux.

But Williams need not take a back seat to any of the above, and now that he'll be recognized with a sculpture of his own, he won't have to feel ignored anymore.

Of course, if Williams had felt that way he would have never let you know.

Not one to seek the limelight or in need of publicity, Williams has always been content to know what he did as a player, and has rested on that without clamoring for recognition.

"He was probably the most underrated player I ever saw,'' Banks told me recently, when talking about his former teammate. "You know that was a great era of baseball and there were so many big stars.

"In the '60s and '70s, Billy didn't get the headlines that he deserved. He should have been a much bigger star.''

Incapable of self-promotion, it took Williams six tries on the Hall of Fame ballot before election in 1987, despite monster numbers in a dead-ball era when pitchers were given every advantage, and hitters were given little chance.

So they had to get by on their talent, and Williams was blessed with the sweetest swing you ever did see, one that matched his personality and his style.

As classy as they come, and as deserving as any, Billy Williams won't have to apologize for being recognized in a statue that will stand forever.

If anything, one could very easily ask, what took the Cubs so long?

World serious

Just about everyone around the game has the Cardinals as a lock to win the NL Central and they're a popular pick to go to the World Series.

Granted, they do have the best player in the world in Albert Pujols, and he's going to win a lot of games by himself, but these predictions are also based on the 1-2 punch of Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright, both of whom are considered Cy Young front-runners.

It seems worth pointing out, however, that Wainwright - who does look like the real deal - has had that kind of season precisely once in his big league career (2009).

And Carpenter, while great when healthy, has pitched four full seasons out of the last eight, and only once in the last three (also 2009).

Just thought I'd mention it.

Chipping in

Though he's never caddied at Augusta before, former NHLer Dan Quinn, a scratch golfer himself, will be on the bag for Ernie Els at the Masters next week.

Els and Quinn became friends a few years ago and it was Els' idea to have Quinn caddie for half Els' starts this season, while his regular caddie, Ricci Roberts, takes the other half.

Els has already won twice with Roberts this year, but the two caddies will split the 10 percent take for all the events, which amounts to more than $300,000 for the pair so far this season.

As for the Masters, Els - who leads the PGA Tour in money, scoring and FedEx points - said he hasn't played well at Augusta the last five years and wanted the energy an athlete brings to the bag.

Makes sense, as long as Quinn doesn't remind Els to keep his head up.

The good guys

The Wolves will host playoff games at the Allstate Arena on April 14 and 16, with their opponent still to be determined.

They're first in the West Division with 101 points and hold a 6-point advantage over second-place Texas with five games to play.

For ticket info, visit chicagowolves.com.

Brown out

How Bears is it to let everyone know they would cut Alex Brown if they couldn't trade him, thus making it impossible to, well, actually trade him?

Best quote

Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau, when asked about whether he has confidence in his playoff goaltending: "I'll tell you three weeks from now how much confidence I have in anybody.''

Best line

Lakers coach Phil Jackson, on the play of his bench: "It makes me want to throw up sometimes.''

And finally -

Miami Herald's Greg Cote: "Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s winless streak is now 62 races, and last week he was penalized for going too fast on pit row. A new definition of no luck at all: you are ticketed for speeding during a NASCAR race.''

brozner@dailyherald.com