Hopefully, Baylor ‘Curse’ Won’t Swallow Dunleavy

The Clippers are two wins from winning a playoff series for the first time in 30 years, which suggests things haven’t gone that well around here, but why now?

I had a theory, only to discover the “Curse of Elgin Baylor” had already been posted on the Internet.

According to Wikipedia.org, “the free encyclopedia,” the Curse of Elgin Baylor “is a phenomenon that supposedly prevents basketball teams from winning championships.”

Wikipedia provides a year-to-year curse rundown, beginning in 1958 when Baylor led Seattle University to the NCAA title game only to lose -- “Seattle eventually downgrading its program to Division II.”

It continues through his pro career, the Minneapolis and Los Angeles Lakers failing to win it all despite the great player’s presence, the Lakers’ going on a 33-game win streak after he was hurt, and then winning the title as soon as Baylor retired.

Now I don’t know about all that because my theory has more to do with his losing reign as Clipper GM, a record of 556 wins and a staggering 1,052 losses in 20 years, going through 13 coaches but somehow still remaining employed.

A sports record that might never be broken.

I stopped talking to Baylor a couple of years ago, losing respect after listening to him back-stab then-coach Alvin Gentry regularly, later being told that was the way he does business, hiring the coach and then second-guessing him until replacing him.

That brings me to the Clippers’ brief flashes of success during his time on the job, which includes two winning seasons. Why?

Well, in each case the Clippers had a strong, control-minded coach on the job, first with Larry Brown and now with Mike Dunleavy, two demanding guys, who you could argue also came across as their own acting GMs.

The Clippers lost Brown, went through 14 more losing seasons, and so I would think it’d be a good idea now to hang on to Dunleavy, who has put together all that Clipper potential we’ve always heard about to build a playoff contender.

The Clippers have the option of renewing Dunleavy’s contract for next season, but because, technically, they only have to inform him if they don’t want him back, I’ve been told they don’t see any reason to let him know they want him back.

Curses, they’re still the Clippers at times, all right, but now maybe two more wins away from a time when they should be stepping forward and announcing a contract extension for Dunleavy.

As long as they are going to shock the world, why not go all the way and spend some more money?

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SOME FOLKS believe Kobe Bryant got fouled on a drive near the end of the game with Phoenix. On 570, Vic the Brick said, “He got raped,” and no one turned off his microphone for the rest of the day.

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I THINK it’s become clear, beyond the fact the team has the longest winning streak in town, why it’s better to be a UCLA football fan these days.

There are good reasons why we don’t have potential Heisman Trophy winners on our team -- never having to worry at some later time that it might have to be returned, or where do we display it if someone is accused of murder?

It’s a stress-free life because we don’t have anyone good enough to rate a new house for their parents, thereby never having to worry about a Pac-10 investigation, and just maybe forfeiting some football wins.

Five years ago our star running back was given an SUV to drive by a TV director, and then suspended for the last three games because it was considered an extra benefit. We learned our lesson.

USC caught a break because no one tripped across the Reggie Bush story last November while the Trojans were still competing, which might have forced USC to hold back its best player while trying to sort out the facts.

The loss to Texas in the national championship game, though, appears to have been a godsend, Trojan fans possibly not having to worry about giving back a national title and already getting a taste of what it’s like to live in a state of denial.

“Easy equation: 34-straight wins=jealousy from everyone else,” wrote TrojanJim on the message board at wearesc.com.

“Once Reggie says it’s OK ... then that will be enough for me,” wrote Bigabby49.

“We’ve got to give Reggie some credit before we jump on him,” said a caller to the Petros Papadakis radio show, credit I guess for getting the Trojans through the season without an investigation.

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UCLA STUDENTS like to hold up car keys and credit cards to taunt the students at USC. I’d guess this year they’ll be holding up deeds.

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ON SUNDAY, Elton Brand was a guest on the father/daughter gabfest on 570, and when asked if Donald Sterling constantly touches him while they chat, the way he does with so many others, Brand says he does.

“I don’t mind except when I’m coming out of the shower,” Brand said. “When I have my clothes on, I don’t mind giving him a little hug.”

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ON MONDAY the father/daughter gabfest stopped at Industry Hills for the 24th annual Casa Colina Padua Village Golf Classic and interviewed jockey Alex Solis at the tournament’s pre-golf brunch.

Solis, who put Kentucky Derby favorite Brother Derek through a workout just before arriving, was asked if he ever talks to the horse.

“I talked to him this morning,” Solis said without hesitation. “I told him I was coming to do your show, and he said, ‘Good luck.’ ”

I thought that was nice, but for some reason every one in the room laughed.

T.J. Simers can be reached at

t.j.simers@latimes.com. To read previous columns by Simers, go to latimes.com/simers.