It’s a Different Meaning When He Plays Hurt

After the Lakers’ James Worthy and the Detroit Pistons’ Mark Aguirre collided under the basket during a game Jan. 20, Worthy immediately returned to action. Aguirre was carried off the court on a stretcher.

Jan Hubbard of Newsday writes that Aguirre has “extensive experience” in being “injured” during nationally televised games against the Lakers. Sunday was the fourth time; the first three incidents occurred when he was with the Dallas Mavericks, and each came during a key game in a playoff series eventually won by the Lakers.

Hubbard’s chronicle:

“Game 4, 1984 Western Conference semifinals: Aguirre went up for a layup, landed on his hip, had to be helped from the floor and did not return. Former Maverick coach Dick Motta later told friends Aguirre was not hurt.

“Game 6, 1986 conference semifinals: Aguirre slightly injured an ankle, left the game, returned, played a while, then took himself out of the game. Aguirre later said the ankle did not bother him when he ran, but he felt pain when he moved laterally.

“Game 7, 1986 conference finals: The Mavericks were one game away from the NBA Finals and playing a close game in the fourth quarter. Aguirre was hit on the hand and ran to the bench, where he sat for nearly three minutes with a ‘knuckle’ injury. Aguirre said after the game the knuckle was ‘no problem.’

“Once, a Maverick official was asked what was wrong with Aguirre, who had missed a game with what appeared to be a phantom injury. The official pointed to his head.”

Add NBA: If you should see a playground basketball player wearing a Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Laker uniform and goggles, call the police.

Officials at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., said the uniform and goggles, plus a uniform worn by former New York Knick Walt Frazier, were stolen from exhibits at the facility.

Joseph O’Brien, executive director of the hall, said cases containing the mementos were apparently jimmied open during visiting hours. “It’s probably some youngster who’s very sorry now,” he said.

Last add NBA: Lenny Wilkens, coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, on former Clipper guard Reggie Williams, who is making 38% of his shots: “As far as I’m concerned, he didn’t know anything when he came to Cleveland. He didn’t know defense, he didn’t know how to get his shot.”

Trivia time: On Jan. 31, 1920, who scored an NHL-record seven goals for the Quebec Bulldogs in a 10-6 victory over the Toronto St. Patricks?

Conflict of interest: Viola Delores Douglas, an unemployed nurse in Houston, was enjoying a Disney movie on television Sunday when her fiance, Eddie Harris, returned to the apartment they share and switched the set to the Super Bowl.

Police gave this account of what happened next:

Douglas, infuriated, attacked Harris with a knife, but he disarmed her. Douglas left the room, only to return and find that Harris wasn’t paying attention to the game. Douglas attacked Harris again, this time succeeding--with a barbecue fork.

The wound to Harris’ neck required several stitches. Douglas was sentenced to 10 months in jail after pleading guilty to misdemeanor assault.

“You were almost a football widow,” Judge Ted Poe told Douglas.

Trivia answer: Joe Malone.

Quotebook: USC Coach George Raveling on Oregon State star Gary Payton: “If Arizona had him, they’re a Final Four team. If UCLA had him, they’re a Final Four team. If we had him, we have a winning season.”