So Far, Looks as Though History Won’t Repeat Itself

Students of ancient history are aware of this. For everyone else, here is a story that before Sunday seemed relevant to the Lakers’ chances of winning the NBA championship.

Once upon a time, the Lakers had a point guard named Magic Johnson. In November of the 1980-81 season, his second in the league, he injured his knee.

The Lakers wandered aimlessly for awhile, losing as many games as they won. Then, with Norm Nixon taking charge, the team suddenly clicked, winning 17 of 23 and looking like a candidate to repeat as champion.

But a terrible thing happened to the Lakers.

Johnson returned.

The 16 games remaining in the regular season were too few to reintroduce a force like Magic into the lineup. He and Nixon traded insults. Players chose sides. Three games into the playoffs, the Lakers were out. They lost to Houston, which, coincidentally, was coached by Del Harris.

I went to the Forum on Sunday to find out whether the Lakers would face the same challenge this season with Shaquille O’Neal’s comeback after he missed 28 games because of a knee injury.

Thirty-nine points, 13 rebounds, 11 successful free throws, the first buzzer-beating winning basket of his career and a 100-98 victory over a Utah team that had won 15 consecutive games gave me the answer.

If the Lakers don’t contend for the championship, it won’t be because Shaq is back.

Credit for that should first go to O’Neal because he stayed in shape during his two-month layoff.

Credit next should go to Harris. Despite the criticism he received, he said he never was tempted to change the Lakers’ emphasis on the low-post offense even when they lost their low post. All he did was insert Elden Campbell at center and hope for the best.

“I never lost sight of the goal,” Harris said. “The goal was the playoffs and to be ready for that.”

He admits his task was easy compared to Paul Westhead’s when he coached the 1980-81 Lakers.

Johnson and Nixon eventually became close friends, but Nixon was not one to step aside quietly when Westhead turned the point guard reins back over to Johnson that season.

If Campbell is upset about returning to power forward when he comes back this week from his own injury, it’s unlikely we’ll hear about it. He does everything quietly.

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More ancient history: As much as the Lakers would like to have Campbell back by Thursday, Harris said the forward is still limping “like Chester on Gunsmoke.” . . .

Harris then did a Dennis Weaver imitation. . . .

“I just love winning,” he said. . . .

But he confessed, “I’m one shot from being stupid.” . . .

When reporters laughed, he said, “That’s funny to you maybe.” . . .

The Clippers are all but certain to finish as the Western Conference’s eighth-seeded playoff team, but they can still determine the second, third and fourth seedings. Their last three games are against Houston, the Lakers and Seattle. . . .

As of Sunday, I like the Clippers’ chances against Seattle. . . .

What happened to the boxing axiom that a challenger must convincingly beat the champion to win the belt?. . . .

There should be a rematch between Oscar De La Hoya and Pernell Whitaker, but I wouldn’t pay another $39.95 to see it. . . .

There wasn’t enough action, especially when compared to the films the pay-per-view audience saw of the Carmen Basilio-Tony DeMarco welterweight fights from 40 years ago. . . .

Best prediction so far this year: Coach Lothar Osiander said the Galaxy wouldn’t start this season 12-0. . . .

Worst prediction so far this year?. . . .

Read on.

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I told you Tiger Woods would win the Masters some day.

No, I didn’t think it would be Sunday. I certainly didn’t think he would win by 12 strokes.

But Woods is not your every day, ordinary Jack Nicklaus or Arnold Palmer. Conventional wisdom about a young player’s experience, maturity or temperament does not apply in his case.

It will be a long time before I doubt him again. I’ll be too busy enjoying his game.

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While wondering if any NBA player other than Robert Parish remembers Chester, I was thinking: Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie and the other Europeans must really be looking forward to seeing Woods again in the Ryder Cup, the Angels should trade for Tom Candiotti, Karl Malone shouldn’t be the MVP until his team actually wins something.