Dodger Opener a Hot Ticket Despite Team’s Cold Start

Make no mistake, Los Angeles is a baseball town. . . .

Last year when most other teams were feeling the after-effects of the strike, fans bought 2,766,251 tickets for 72 Dodger home games. . . .

The opening game at Dodger Stadium today, matching Hideo Nomo against the World Series champion Atlanta Braves, was sold out long ago and ticket brokers have been getting as much as $150 for choice seats with a face value of $14. . . .

It should be about 50 degrees warmer than it was at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Sunday. . . .

How ridiculous it is that the Cubs are scheduled to play 15 of their first 20 games at home. . . .

The frigid weather helped to cause the groin injury suffered by Dodger pitcher Ramon Martinez. . . .

Wasn’t Greg Gagne supposed to make us forget, not remember, Jose Offerman? . . .

Cal Ripken’s errorless streak that ended at 74 games on Saturday was only his second best streak, but remarkable for a shortstop. . . .

The question about Tony Gwynn has been upgraded: Can he bat .500 this season? . . .

However, the upset of the day was that Gwynn didn’t get any of the San Diego Padres’ 17 hits in their 17-2 victory at Houston. . . .

In conjunction with the Pacific Coast League exhibit at Gene Autry Museum entitled “Runs, Hits and an Era, 1903-58,” there will be a panel discussion on April 27 featuring John Hall, Stu Nahan, Bill Brundige, Gil Stratton, and moderator Ira Reiner. . . .

Hall wrote about the PCL, Nahan and Brundige broadcast games, Stratton was an umpire, and former L.A. district attorney Reiner was an avid fan. . . .

Shaquille O’Neal sure is a slow dresser. . . .

But once he got into uniform Sunday, Orlando Coach Brian Hill should have put him into the game against Chicago immediately instead of waiting several minutes. . . .

Somehow, O’Neal does a little more for me at center than Jon Koncak does. . . .

Besides, O’Neal had left the team for his grandmother’s funeral, not an unauthorized boating outing. . . .

If the Bulls needed any more confidence heading into the playoffs, beating the Magic at the O-rena on a day when Michael Jordan shot 33% must have given it to them. . . .

Color-coordinated Dennis Rodman’s hair matched his uniform. . . .

The Lakers are a victory away from their total last season when they finished 48-34. . . .

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Among the possibilities to succeed Seth Greenberg as Long Beach State basketball coach are Cal State Bakersfield Coach Pat Douglas and Kansas assistant Matt Doherty. . . .

The Mighty Ducks might not make the NHL playoffs, but Teemu Selanne and Paul Kariya belong there. . . .

The way the women are steamrolling over everyone during their tuneup games, the Dream Team shouldn’t be the only U.S. Olympic basketball team to win a gold medal in Atlanta. . . .

I guess all the big-name U.S. tennis players won’t be competing in the later rounds of the Davis Cup, after all. . . .

With the big money on the line, Chris McCarron, 41, is still one of the greatest jockeys. . . .

McCarron’s winning ride aboard Cavonnier in the $1 million Santa Anita Derby was flawless. . . .

A colt who didn’t have such a pleasant trip, Alyrob, might have emerged as the best Kentucky Derby prospect. . . .

McCarron, who had ridden Alyrob but wasn’t sure he would start Saturday and thus committed to Cavonnier, might have to decide which to ride on May 4 at Churchill Downs. . . .

Alyrob, who was disqualified and placed last after finishing second on Saturday, has won only $53,000 in prize money. He probably won’t qualify for the Derby if a full field of 20 is entered, but that hasn’t happened since 1984. . . .

What horse has the best chance to break Cigar’s winning streak that now stands at 14? His Billy Mott-trained stablemate, Geri, who made it six in a row with an impressive victory over still another stablemate, Wekiva Springs, in the Oaklawn Handicap. . . .

Cigar and Geri eventually will have to meet, probably in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.