Pressure Cooker Didn’t Turn Kobe to Mush

Bill Lyon of the Philadelphia Inquirer, writing on Kobe Bryant’s poise and leadership against Portland in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals:

“At a point in time when many players run away from the ball, when they want no part of it, Bryant was running toward it. What struck you the most was how he was, for the most part, under control, his game throttled back and calm and composed.

”. . . Bryant’s transformation during this season, and this postseason, has taken virtually everyone by surprise.”

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Trivia time: Sportsprize.com has this question: Besides the Pacers, which are the other teams from Indianapolis to have played in the NBA?

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Picking on Pippen: Skip Bayless in the Chicago Tribune: “It’s mind-blowing to think Pippen was voted one of the century’s 50 greatest players. One of the 50 best defenders, no doubt one of the 50 finest open-court players when the game’s not on the line, perhaps.

“But truly great players do not let their team blow two nearly insurmountable leads in the conference finals, in Game 3 at home and Game 7 away.”

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NBA note: Peter Vecsey in the New York Post: “Had the Blazers met the Pacers in the finals, NBC was prepared to call it ‘Must ZZZ TV.’ ”

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Pond or deep water? Former Buffalo Bill quarterback Jim Kelly has been telling people he had to swim ashore after a small plane he was flying in crashed in water off Alaska.

Even though the pilot said the plane landed in a tidal zone six inches deep, Kelly is sticking by his story:

“I know what happened. I know when you get out of a plane and go underwater. It’s a little deeper than six inches. I know I’m not a goldfish, I know I’m not that small.”

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His kind of place: Tom FitzGerald in the San Francisco Chronicle: “John Rocker was sent down to triple-A Richmond and now it all seems to fit.

“The Braves are in first place, but Rocker’s new team has the worst record in the International League. At least he can console himself that he’s in the city that used to be the capital of the Confederacy.”

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Classy kid: Nathaniel Checketts, the teenage son of Madison Square Garden President Dave Checketts, is obviously a sore loser. After the Knicks’ series-ending loss to the Pacers, the New York Daily News said he whipped a towel in the face of Jalen Rose’s face and swore at him.

Fortunately for Nathaniel, Rose’s teammates restrained him from going into the stands to retaliate.

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Looking back: On this day in 1986, Larry Bird scored 29 points to lead the Boston Celtics to a 114-97 victory over the Houston Rockets and their 16th NBA title.

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Trivia answer: The Jets and the Olympians.

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And finally: Mike Littwin of the Rocky Mountain News on Steve Young joining the Denver Broncos:

“You can forgive Young, even though his apparent decision to continue playing is so sadly predictable. OK, maybe he’s got a law degree. Maybe he’s a bright guy. But in the end, Young looks like just another athlete who can’t see past his adrenal gland.

“But if we forgive Young his dream, can we forgive [Denver Coach Mike] Shanahan if Young is startled awake to the sound of an ambulance siren?”