Sooner or Later We Had to Ask

Today, the J.A. stands for Just Asking.

When Scottie Pippen said, “I want to be traded. I want to go to Phoenix or L.A.”, do you think there was any chance he might be talking about the Clippers?

And why is it when people say they want to play in Los Angeles because of the auxiliary income possibilities, it’s always with the Lakers? Aren’t the Clippers in Los Angeles too?

So with a 2-10 record and this Lawrence Phillips mess, does anyone around here miss the Rams?

When Paul Kariya’s agent, Don Baizley, said Tuesday that “I expect it to happen pretty fast. It’s a work in progress,” wouldn’t it be nice if he were referring to Kariya’s contract with the Mighty Ducks instead of the timetable for joining Team Canada?

Do you realize that by Friday night Kariya will have missed a third of the season?

What are we supposed to make of the Mighty Ducks’ switch to a neutral-zone trap? That worked for, what, one game? Even when Dallas got a two-goal lead, which is supposed to be the time when they shut everything down and sit back on defense, the Stars still outshot the Ducks 21-6 in the final two periods. Uh, is anyone else going to step up now that Teemu Selanne’s tank is empty?

And why did it take a guy just called up from Cincinnati, Jeremy Stevenson, to say opponents were going to have to pay for pounding on Selanne?

Doesn’t it seem unfair that, from the way things are shaping up, UCLA has to go to Dallas while USC gets to go to Hawaii?

Which seemed more unlikely, John Robinson going to the Raiders or coming back to USC?

If George Foreman can see it’s time to move on, why can’t Robinson?

Since Fox and its cable sidekicks have drawn so many kudos for their continuos score and clock graphic in football, baseball and hockey, why don’t the Fox Sports Net channels use the “Fox Box” for NBA basketball?

What does it say about Matt Guokas’ announcing abilities when NBC bumps him off NBA game coverage for rookie Isiah Thomas? And what does it say about Guokas’ coaching abilities when, unlike every other coach who has worked for NBC, his name doesn’t comes up for coaching vacancies?

After Brett Hull backtracked and said he didn’t threaten to boycott the Olympics and Mike Ditka backtracked and said that wasn’t a retirement speech he made Sunday, should we believe anything these guys say anymore?

Do you think anyone will be talking about Dennis Rodman or the Spice Girls a year from now?

The bowl alliance (nee bowl coalition) was supposed to bring the top teams in college football together, but do you realize that if Nebraska wins out the two undefeated teams will play their bowl games on opposite sides of the country for the second time in three years?

With the Arizona Diamondbacks shelling out cash like a malfunctioning ATM, is there a more appropriate name for a stadium than Phoenix’s Bank One Ballpark?

Has Peyton Manning done anything as important as Charles Woodson’s performance Saturday?

Would Manning still feel good about coming back for his senior year if he didn’t have a national championship or Heisman Trophy to show for it?

When is Shaquille O’Neal going to realize that it’s better to come back too late from an injury than too soon? He rushed his return from a knee injury last season and hurt his other knee trying to compensate. He couldn’t wait to join the action this season, and now that abdominal strain is lingering on and on. Do you think anyone would complain about some missed games in November if he’s healthy and leading the Lakers into the finals in June?

On the other hand, do you think Loy Vaught would be this cautious about his back if he weren’t in a contract year?

If you think the college football polls have faults now, how accurate could they have been in the days before television? At least now people have a chance to see out-of-town games and highlights. Shouldn’t you actually see a team play before you decide it’s the national champion?

Did you really think you could get all the way through a newspaper story these days and not see the words “El Nino?”

Is a banged-up Los Alamitos team ready to repeat its 1995 victory over Mater Dei? Is any public-school team capable of beating Mater Dei? Don’t you think every other public school in the county would be lining up to loan the Griffins some players if it would help?

If you’re going to drink, could you help us all have a happy and safe Thanksgiving weekend by not driving?

Just asking.