Talk About Going for the Jugular

Michael Wilbon of the Washington Post, writing on NBA “throat slashing,” the dragging of the index finger across the neck in an exaggerated, menacing manner:

“It’s become the obnoxious gesture du jour for an increasing number of young [NBA] players at the end of a game when an opponent has been vanquished.”

“Chicago’s Ron Harper, a 12-year NBA veteran, rolled his eyes at the mention of ‘throat slitting,’ as it’s now called, and dragged his index finger across his neck while looking very disgusted.

“ ‘You know what would happen if somebody did that on the Bulls?’ he said. ‘We’d string him up, I think. If anybody did that on this club. I know [Michael Jordan], for sure, would hang him.’ ”

Throat slitting. Is this a great game or what?

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Trivia time: Who holds the record for minutes played in an NBA playoff game without committing a foul?

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Early hoops: A report in Thursday’s edition of The Times told of a discovery of a “basketball” court in Chiapas, Mexico. The Maya ball court dates from 1400 BC.

And we always thought that Dr. James Naismith invented the game in 1891.

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South Kariya? This is a hockey score: South Korea 92, Thailand 0 in the Asia-Oceania junior championship game.

Donghwan Song scored 31 goals.

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Nobody’s safe: After watching Marlin catcher Gregg Zaun hit a home run into the pool at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix, Florida Coach Rich Donnelly figured St. Louis Cardinal slugger Mark McGwire could do the same against his team.

“My house is only 21 miles from our park,” Donnelly said. “I’ve already told my wife, “When he comes to bat, keep the dogs in and stay out of the pool.’ ”

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Hidden answer: Phil Rosenthal of the Chicago Sun-Times asked Boston Celtic legend Red Auerbach if he thought Laker vice president Jerry West, who has talked about resigning, would be able to completely walk away from basketball. Auerbach couldn’t.

Said Red: “I can’t shoot par golf like Jerry can.”

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Looking back: On this day in 1985, Magic Johnson had 15 assists in one half in a playoff game against Portland to set an NBA record.

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Trivia answer: Dan Majerle of Phoenix, 59 minutes in a three-overtime game against Chicago on June 13, 1993.

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And finally: Skip Bayless in the Chicago Tribune, on Michael Jordan’s 38-point performance Wednesday night against the New Jersey Nets:

“Oh, did Jordan love this setting. As the Nets were introduced, fireworks exploded near the top of Continental Arena and smoke floated down onto the floor. Disco-rock music with bass blasting left your ears ringing.

“On one baseline sat Billy Crystal. On the other Danny Aiello. Jordan watched without expression, rhythmically chewing his gum, waiting for the lights to go up so he could turn them out.”