Hazzard Was Seen as Well Worth the Risk

Gail Goodrich’s recollection of John Wooden’s pep talk before the 1964 NCAA championship game between UCLA and Duke reminded Jerry Clark, executive director of the Southern California Sports Broadcasters, of a dinner after that game.

At the dinner with Clark were Oklahoma State coach Hank Iba, the U.S. Olympic coach that year, and USC’s Forrest Twogood. According to Clark, Iba told Twogood that while he was impressed with UCLA senior Walt Hazzard’s performance at the Final Four, he was not sure he was going to select him for the Olympic team.

Twogood paused, then said, “Henry, in nine games against Walter Hazzard’s Bruin teams, I feel fortunate to have won two of them. Walter Hazzard is the only player I’ve ever seen in college who could, if he wanted to -- and I’m not insinuating anything here -- control a point spread.”

Iba ended up selecting Hazzard for the team, which won the gold medal at Tokyo.

Trivia time: What current Laker assistant coach worked in three cities for professional basketball teams that all had the same nickname?

Steroids no, gambling yes: There is no sanctioned gambling in baseball, right? There is now.

According to Bloomberg News, the Boston Red Sox have teamed up with the state of Massachusetts to sell lottery tickets, beginning April 11. Prizes include $1-million payouts and lifetime season tickets to games at Fenway Park.

Red Sox President Larry Lucchino calls it an “innovative venture.”

Too bad Pete Rose didn’t think of that.

Misery loves company: Speaking at a high school benefit dinner in Cincinnati this week, Rose said major league players who have tested positive for steroids in the two years since baseball began testing “have to be handed some kind of sentence.”

“In my case,” the Cincinnati Enquirer quoted Rose as saying, “I broke the rules and I’ve been suspended 18 years.”

Mother knew best: Former lightweight boxer Joey Medina, now a professional comedian, said this week at a Golden State Boxers’ Assn. “Ringside Comedy” fundraiser in Commerce: “My mother always came to my fights. Not to cheer me on, but to talk me out of fighting.”

Looking back: On this day in 1987, Keith Smart’s 16-foot shot from the baseline gave Indiana a 74-73 victory over Syracuse in the NCAA basketball championship game.

Trivia answer: Frank Hamblen, who was an assistant coach with the San Diego Rockets for two years and then the Houston Rockets for one year after the team moved in 1971. He also was director of player personnel for the ABA’s Denver Rockets from 1972 to ’77.

And finally: “Poor Barry Bonds,” said CBS’ David Letterman. “You have to feel bad for Barry Bonds. He has told reporters that his life is in shambles. I thought, well, of course you read the warning labels right there on the steroids and it says right there, ‘may cause shambles.’ What’s the matter with this guy?”

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