Notes on a Scorecard - May 27, 1991

Nobody thought the Lakers could play better or the Trail Blazers worse than in Game 3. Well, they did in Game 4. . . .

How early did the Lakers lock this one up? Chick Hearn put it in the fridge in the third quarter. . . .

Those aren’t raindrops in Portland, they’re teardrops. . . .

The Lakers are smarter than the Trail Blazers. . . .

You knew Portland was in trouble when the Lakers extended their lead from 12 points to 17 while Magic Johnson was sitting out 2:49 of the second quarter. . . .

Balance is having four starters score 10 points apiece, the other starter eight and two substitutes seven apiece in the first half. . . .

So much for the notion that the “aging” Magic would lose his effectiveness Sunday afternoon after playing 44 minutes Friday night. . . .

Mike Dunleavy didn’t receive any votes for NBA coach of the year. He would get some, though, if the balloting were conducted today. . . .

Jerry West, who celebrated his 53rd birthday Sunday, apparently knows coaches as well as he does players. . . .

Heartbreaker of the day: Fan Samuel Rhone’s shot from half court that hit the front rim during the halftime contest. A basket would have won him $53,000. . . .

Mike Tyson arrived fashionably late, but sat in a chair unfashionably high behind the north basket. . . .

The Lakers had a wide edge in floor burns. . . .

Dunleavy on Sam Perkins: “He’s got a huge heart.” . . .

The fourth-quarter chant at the Forum has gone from “Cooop, Cooop,” to “A.C., A.C.” . . .

Jack Nicholson on the reaction of Trail Blazer fans to him: “I’m a symbol for hatred--good-natured hatred.” . . .

NBC is dry washing its hands in anticipation of a possible Laker-Chicago championship series. . . .

The New York Knicks wouldn’t be looking for a new coach if they had hired former player Phil Jackson when they should have. . . .

For all the goals the Pittsburgh Penguins scored, the turning point in the Stanley Cup championship came late in Game 4 when they held the Minnesota North Stars without a shot during a five-minute power play. . . .

The Kings should be kicking themselves--with their skates on--for not reaching the finals. An L.A.-Pittsburgh series would have been something special. . . .

Twelve of the first 22 editions of the Hollywood Turf Handicap have been won by favorites. The question today, though, is who will be the favorite. Morning-line oddsmaker Russell Hudak has made Prized 8-5 and Itsallgreektome 9-5. . . .

Among Indy 500 winner Rick Mears’ many virtues is patience. . . .

The prerace coverage on ABC was better than the race coverage. . . .

I still miss listening to Sid Collins on Memorial Day. . . .

Wonder what Dick Williams thinks about Mark Langston’s performances this season? . . .

Bud Black deserves an award for having a winning record with the San Francisco Giants. . . .

Forty years ago Saturday, Willie Mays went 0 for 5 in his major league debut. . . .

Even before their 23-hit outburst against the New York Mets Sunday, the St. Louis Cardinals were leading the National League in batting. . . .

I don’t think Chicago Cub Manager Jim Essian can stay unbeaten too much longer. . . .

Tom Lasorda, who saw the Dodgers blow an 11-2 lead to Philadelphia at Dodger Stadium last year, got a bum rap from Lou Piniella about pouring it on. . . .

ESPN’s Bill Patrick was talking about the wrong Martinez Sunday when he said that Dennis Martinez might be the best pitcher in baseball. . . .

You would think that the rest of baseball would learn something about the hiring and firing of managers from the Dodgers, who have done pretty well with only two in the past 38 years. . . .

Cliche of the day: The Lakers are peaking at the right time.