Walton’s Passes Are Pure Magic for Arizona

Arizona’s Luke Walton is a 6-foot-8 forward who has the skills of a play-making guard, much like Magic Johnson in his prime.

“I can’t think of anyone who is in Luke’s class as a passer, and that includes our guards,” Arizona Coach Lute Olson told Lee Shappell of the Arizona Republic.

Walton led the Pacific 10 Conference in assists with a 6.32 average. He is the first nonguard to lead the league since it began keeping official assist totals in 1974-75.

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More on Luke: His father, Bill Walton, the former UCLA center, commenting on his son: “My dad and Coach [John] Wooden were my greatest teachers, and I’ve tried to be Luke’s, to educate him to make good decisions.

“It’s a joy to see the results.... Now if he’d just get rid of that tattoo and find a uniform that fits.”

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Trivia time: Which school holds the NCAA men’s tournament record for points scored in a game?

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High praise indeed: Alex Rodriguez of the Texas Rangers commenting on Jason Giambi, the former Oakland Athletic who is with the Yankees: “I think [he] will be the next Babe Ruth of New York. He’s the best left-handed hitter I’ve ever played against, period.”

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No Mike, no gate: Ron Rapoport in the Chicago Sun-Times: “How is Michael Jordan’s injury affecting the buzz around the MCI Center in Washington?

“Well, attendance is down, concession sales are off, restaurant traffic in the immediate area has fallen off, celebrities are hanging out elsewhere and scalpers are selling tickets at below face value, the Washington Post says.”

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Enterprising: Ruben Rivera’s alleged theft of Derek Jeter’s glove and bat reminded the Associated Press’ Jim Litke of a line by catcher-turned-broadcaster Bob Uecker: “My best year as a ballplayer was 1965, when I made $21,000--and $17,000 of that came selling other players’ equipment.”

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More Rivera: David Letterman on Rivera: “He’s stealing stuff out of Derek Jeter’s locker, and then he’s selling it on eBay.... You know what this means? They might have to call up Winona Ryder from Columbus.”

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Looking back: On this day in 1961, USC defeated Oregon, 81-79, in a first-round NCAA West Regional game at Portland. Two days later, the Trojans were eliminated by Arizona State, 86-71.

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Already in place: Comedy writer Argus Hamilton in the San Francisco Chronicle: “The Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee chairman said that L.A. will have to build two shooting ranges if the city wants to host the Games again.

“That’s ridiculous. What’s wrong with the freeways we have?”

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Trivia answer: Loyola Marymount, 149, against Michigan, which scored 115, in a West Regional second-round game in 1990.

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And finally: Rick Morrissey of the Chicago Tribune, commenting before the start of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament: “I don’t like Winthrop’s chances in the first round and not just because Duke has 10 McDonald’s high school All-Americans and the Eagles have three Burger King cooks on their roster.

“I don’t like Winthrop’s chances because Winthrop won’t shoot well in the tournament. Not with a sports information director named Jack Frost. True.”