It Seems Davis Can Recall Some Things Too

Former California governor Gray Davis, who has become a regular at Staples Center, attended two of the Lakers’ playoff games against the Houston Rockets. And he doesn’t mind being treated like any other fan.

Freelance writer Alysse Minkoff, in her ESPN.com column, reports that even the security checkpoints don’t bother Davis.

“[As] governor, you never get to walk in through the front door,” he told Minkoff. “You’re always going through kitchens and loading docks and going up back elevators.”

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Trivia time: What sport did Davis play in college?

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Rejected: During halftime of Game 5 of the Rocket series, Minkoff reported that she and Davis made their way over to the Chairman’s Room, the private club where celebrities gather. One problem, though. Davis was turned away.

“This could only happen in Los Angeles,” wrote Minkoff. “Every single B-list actor is whisked into a private club that will not allow the former governor past the velvet ropes.”

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Fit to a tee: Members of the UCLA men’s golf team have been caught with their pants down.

In the June issue of Golf Digest, due to hit newsstands next week, the No. 3-ranked Bruins are shown wearing nothing while holding buckets of golf balls to cover their front sides.

It is part of a special report on fitness in golf.

UCLA Coach O.D. Vincent said, “We are honored to be included in the piece. It’s a tremendous opportunity to give our program exposure.”

Lots of exposure.

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Ouch: From Steve Rosenbloom of the Chicago Tribune: “Eric Dickerson, Lisa Guerrero -- jeez, if Michele Tafoya completes one lucid thought, she has already made ‘Monday Night Football’ better.”

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No experts here: “You know the guys who claim to know hockey on ESPN or Fox Sports Net,” said radio talk show JT the Brick. “Guess how many of them had San Jose and Calgary in the Western Conference finals?”

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Just avoiding injury: After New Orleans’ Baron Davis was injured in Tuesday night’s playoff loss to Miami, TNT’s Charles Barkley said, “That’s why I never played defense. You could get hurt playing defense.”

Of Barkley, Randy Hill of FoxSports.com writes: “He couldn’t guard a bear in a phone booth.”

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Looking back: On this day in 1996, it took 20 three-point shots, including 13 in a row, for the Seattle SuperSonics to defeat the Houston Rockets, 105-101.

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Trivia answer: Davis was on the Stanford golf team from 1962 to ’64. He says he was a two handicap.

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And finally: Regarding Barkley’s 56-point playoff performance (third-best all-time) against Golden State on May 4, 1994, TNT partner Kenny Smith wondered why Barkley was assessed a technical foul.

“What could you have been mad about?” Smith asked.

Barkley: “I kept telling [Golden State coach] Don Nelson, ‘Are you sure you’re not going to double-team me?’ They gave me one for taunting.”

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Larry Stewart can be reached at larry.stewart@latimes.com.