Instead of Stern Words, He Gave Them Kindness

Like a United Nations general secretary on tour of underdeveloped nations, NBA Commissioner David Stern was kind enough in remarks before the Clippers’ playoff game at the Sports Arena to include them among the league’s ascending teams.

Invariably polite, his media audience nodded, although most of us have been around the Clippers too long to believe they’re going anywhere unless Donald T. Sterling decides to pursue players good enough to make Stern look like a prophet instead of merely a gracious guest.

Even if Sterling goes against his nature and unlocks his bank vault, that can’t happen until the end of next season. That’s when players such as Kevin Garnett, Joe Smith and Antonio McDyess become free agents.

On Monday night, there was only one question to be answered.

Who do the Utah Jazz prefer to play next?

Careful, Jazz. When the Portland Trail Blazers were asked that question, their answer was the Lakers.

As it turns out, the Jazz players were careful.

They were well coached, realizing that the Lakers wouldn’t be leaving for Portland until tonight and that anything they might say about their potential second-round opponents would find it way to a Forum bulletin board.

“I don’t care who we play,” forward Antoine Carr said. “I just want to play as quickly as possible. I’d like to get the next one on.”

Most of his teammates were even less forthcoming.

Maybe it doesn’t matter to them if they have to play the Lakers. The Jazz was 3-1 against them this season, losing the final game on a last-second fadeaway jump shot by Shaquille O’Neal.

So the Jazz doesn’t have anyone to match up with O’Neal. The Lakers don’t have Karl Malone and John Stockton.

I’d like to have heard Malone’s true thoughts on the Lakers, but he wasn’t giving them up. The Mailman doesn’t need anyone else to deliver his messages.

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Unless you were Steve Lavin, Roy Williams or Bobby Cremins, the Baron Davis sweepstakes was fine sport for spectators . . . .

In fairness to him, though, we should remind ourselves that he’s going to be nothing more than a freshman, with all the serendipity that entails . . . .

He could be another Mike Bibby or even Stephon Marbury. He also could be another Felipe Lopez, considered the No. 1 prep player when he signed with St. John’s . . . .

It turned out Lopez wasn’t even the No. 1 college prospect on his high school team. . . .

If Davis doesn’t become the country’s best point guard, or even the city’s with USC’s signing of Kevin Augustine, don’t blame Davis. Blame the coaches, recruiting experts, shoe companies and media that have constructed his legend. . . .

All it will take for Jim Harrick to have the Rhode Island job is his signature on a contract . . . .

But he wasn’t even a candidate until a phone call last week from Robert Terino, who negotiates contracts for the school’s athletic department, to his friend Larry Cohen, of Cohen Marketing in Hollywood. . . .

Knowing Cohen is a basketball aficionado, Terino called to inquire about three candidates Rhode Island was considering. Cohen told him the list wasn’t complete without Harrick’s name. . . .

Bill Russell is facing his first real test as a manager. . . .

Although the Bad News Dodgers are still at the beginning of the season, Russell’s handling of the remainder of this trip could determine how they finish. . . .

Why are the Angels having so much success at coming from behind? “Because we’re always behind,” Jim Edmonds says. . . .

Whoever gave the Laker coach the nickname “Dull Harris” has never met him. . . .

Entering a press conference after the victory Sunday over Portland, Harris tripped. “That’s my Kramer,” he said, referring to the “Seinfeld” character. . . .

Harris later imitated Billy Bob Thornton in the movie “Sling Blade”. . . .

P.J. Carlesimo and his Portland Trail Blazers should quit complaining about Shaquille O’Neal’s aggressive moves to the basket. They remind me of Pat Riley’s Lakers when Moses Malone was knocking them over like bowling pins. . . .

Speaking of physical playoff series, Duck Coach Ron Wilson screamed first about the Phoenix Coyotes’ rough play. . . .

“It’s not the Goodwill Games,” Coyote Coach Don Hay reminded him. . . .

Now that the Ducks are hitting back, guess who’s screaming. . . .

Hey, Don, it’s not the Goodwill Games.

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While wondering what Wilson, the Wizard of OC, will think of next, I was thinking: he looks like more of a genius when Jeremy Roenick isn’t playing for the Coyotes, Andy Pettitte doesn’t seem to miss Jim Leyritz after all, Fuzzy Zoeller will never get it.