Jordan Sees Pippen Starring in a Familiar Role

Michael Jordan told the Oregonian that his former Chicago Bull teammate, Scottie Pippen, will be the key to the Portland Trail Blazers’ success in the NBA playoffs:

“He’s going to give them knowledge they need to excel as a team. . . . His defensive presence and versatility is something they definitely needed, and it will be one of their strong points.

“Scottie will not let them lose their focus during the playoffs. He knows what it takes to win.”

Having a teammate like Jordan would help.

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Trivia time: Who holds the record for assists in an NBA playoff game?

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A real maverick: Steve Davis in the Dallas Morning News: “You may not like [Maverick owner] Mark Cuban’s style, but you have to appreciate his sense of humor. Here’s what he had to say, tongue in cheek, about his approval last week by NBA owners:

“ ‘They were afraid to vote for me,’ he said, ‘and afraid to vote against me.’ ”

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Game ball: The ball Wilt Chamberlain used to score the last of his record 100 points will be included in the next auction by Leland’s on April 27.

Chamberlain, then with the Philadelphia Warriors, scored 100 points against the New York Knicks on March 2, 1962, in Hershey, Pa.

When the game ended, a teenage fan named Kerry Ryman made off with the ball and used it in his neighborhood games. There were numerous attempts to return the ball but Chamberlain never showed interest.

When Chamberlain died last fall, Ryman decided to put it up for auction.

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Shot down: An update on the bullfighting debut in Spain of Roman Karpoukhine, the former Russian air force captain:

It was a bust. Cushions rained down on the sand of the Monumental arena in Barcelona as spectators whistled their disapproval after he finished.

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Ho hum: Jon Stewart of “The Daily Show” on Comedy Central had this take on Ken Griffey Jr.’s 400th home run:

“Griffey became the youngest player in major league history to reach 400 career homers, though the Rockies beat him and the Cincinnati Reds, thus finally moving Junior ahead of Sammy Sosa in the ‘totally worthless home runs’ category.”

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Whatever you say: Hall of famer Bill Russell, when asked what he liked the most about being the subject of an HBO documentary: “It shows that I was a man of integrity--and I was a pretty good basketball player too.”

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Just wondering: Ron Rapoport in the Chicago Sun-Times: “Rush Limbaugh’s campaign to become part of the ‘Monday Night Football’ broadcast crew wouldn’t be an indication his ratings are going down, would it?”

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Idiots convention: Jerry Greene in the Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel: “You probably didn’t hear it when announcer Joe Angel was calling a Marlins home game for Fox Sports Net and said:

“ ‘One of the 9,000 idiots in attendance has run on the field.’ ”

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Looking back: On this day in 1912, the Boston Red Sox christened Fenway Park with an 11-inning, 7-6 victory over New York, and the Detroit Tigers opened Navin Field with an 11-inning, 6-5 victory over Cleveland.

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Trivia answer: Magic Johnson of the Lakers and John Stockton of the Utah Jazz share the record with 24.

Johnson set his mark against Phoenix on May 15, 1984, and Stockton equaled it against the Lakers on May 17, 1988.

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And finally: Steve Hummer in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, on John Rocker not talking to the media after his season debut Tuesday night:

“Normally, I’d rail against the silent treatment. . . . But, considering what lurks down there, he’s better off keeping this door to his soul closed.

“Should he evolve into a Steve Carlton or Eddie Murray, then at least something good will have come of the experience.”