It’s Almost Foolish How Well They Played

On April Fools’ Day, I am trying to figure out the significance of the Angels finishing first in the American League exhibition standings and the Dodgers first in the National League. . . .

The Angels’ 21-10 record is the best in franchise history. . . .

That must mean that the on-again, off-again, on-again sale of the controlling interest in the club to the Walt Disney Co. hasn’t been playing mind games with the players. . . .

“The sooner something happens, the better for everyone,” Manager Marcel Lachemann said. “But we’ve had so many other things to focus on. Besides, we have no control over a sale.” . . .

Eric Karros says the new playing surface at Dodger Stadium is a lot faster than the old one. . . .

“I had to lunge for a ball hit to my left last night,” the Dodger first baseman said Sunday. “There will be a lot more hits here this season, but you’ll see fewer runners scoring from second on singles because the grass is shorter.” . . .

Tom Lasorda on criticism that the Dodgers are braggarts: “A couple of things were said a few weeks ago that we’ll have to live with. But I want our team to think it can win. The first step to success is self-confidence.” . . .

The Dodgers will play seven of their last 10 games against the team that is supposed to give them their toughest competition for the NL West title, San Diego, but won’t play their first game against the Padres until July 1. . . .

Unless the Wildcats suddenly turn into Fat Cats, I can’t see Syracuse giving Kentucky a contest tonight. . . .

It’s doubtful the Wildcats believe the headlines that proclaimed them national champions after their victory over Massachusetts in the semifinals. . . .

This is a team that doesn’t have an ego problem. . . .

All those high school All-Americans don’t complain about their lack of playing time. . . .

Neither do they show off. . . .

Come to think of it, sportsmanship has made a comeback in the NCAA tournament. There has been little flaunting, taunting or jive talking and not an excess of high-fiving, either. . . .

Massachusetts finished the season with the best record among Division I schools, 35-2. . . .

Congratulations to the Final Four for shooting a solid 77% from the free-throw line Saturday. . . .

In the 1987 NCAA semifinals, Jim Boeheim’s Syracuse Orangemen defeated Rick Pitino’s Providence Friars, 77-63, at New Orleans. That time, Boeheim had the superior personnel. . . .

Most underrated Kentucky player might be center Mark Pope, who impressed a lot of us when he played for Washington. . . .

Thumbs up to CBS for concentrating its camera work on the players, not the coaches. . . .

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Cigar showed the mark of a true champion when he withstood the stretch challenge of a good horse, Soul Of The Matter, to win the $4-million Dubai Cup on a night when he had trouble handling the track. . . .

An appearance by Cigar in the Hollywood Gold Cup on June 30 would be the most widely anticipated of any horse at Hollywood Park since Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew attracted 68,132 fans, but ran out of the money behind J.O. Tobin, Affiliate and Text in the 1977 Swaps Stakes. . . .

For two second-place finishes this year, Soul Of The Matter has earned $860,000. . . .

Former Dodger third baseman Ron Cey watched son Danny help lead California to an upset over USC on Friday night and made a one-handed catch of a foul ball. . . .

Construction has begun on a Trojan baseball Hall of Fame at Dedeaux Field. . . .

Keyshawn Johnson will visit several NFL teams next week and graduate from USC on May 11. . . .

Among Trojans making good impressions during spring practice are sophomore offensive tackles Ken Bowen and Rome Douglas, who has been switched from tight end. . . .

Quarterback Brad Otton appears to be much bigger in the upper body. . . .

Best hockey game I’ve seen on the tube all season was Michigan’s 3-2 victory over Colorado College in overtime for the NCAA title. . . .

Love those Wolverine helmets, which are replicas of those worn by the football team. . . .

This could be quite a year in hockey for the greater Detroit area. . . .

Prediction: Kentucky 82, Syracuse 63.