Lakers zone out and make a game of the series
The NBA playoffs were tilting toward boring before Lamar Odom’s luck turned bad, Channing Frye found his stroke and Dwight Howard rediscovered his powers....
If you didn’t know any better, you’d swear the Lakers had never seen a zone defense before this week.…
The Boston Celtics look old again....
When Magic Johnson says Rajon Rondo has supplanted Jason Kidd as the NBA’s top all-around point guard, he shortchanges Steve Nash, a two-time most valuable player.…
The MVPs who have reigned the last two seasons in the National League, NFL, NBA and NHL — Albert Pujols, Peyton Manning, LeBron James and Alex Ovechkin — have one other thing in common: No championships won in that time.…
One more reason to tune in: The Dodgers are 20-7 in games called by Vin Scully, 6-13 in games called by others.…
Maybe Andre Ethier would get more All-Star support from fans if he ranked among the major league statistical leaders in virtually every significant offensive category.…
Oh, wait, he does.…
When Arizona Cardinals President Michael Bidwill says of the NFL’s awarding the 2014 Super Bowl to the New Meadowlands Stadium, “We’ll all pray that it doesn’t snow that day,” he’s not speaking for the nation’s couch potatoes.…
As Fox Sports Chairman David Hill tells USA Today, “If we’re really lucky, it will begin snowing right after halftime.” …
One thing about Venus Williams: She’s not shy.…
“Anyone else find it ironic,” reader Pat Reynolds of Beverlywood e-mails to ask, “that Bono is voicing the World Cup commercials when his homeland was so cruelly denied the chance to participate?” …
With Ireland eliminated at the hands, literally, of Thierry Henry and France last fall, Spain and Brazil are co-favorites to win the event kicking off June 11 in South Africa.…
In the wake of Floyd Landis’ doping allegations against Lance Armstrong, more than half the respondents to a USA Today poll said they had “quit caring” about drug cheats.…
Kansas City Royals Manager Ned Yost, after Vladimir Guerrero on Tuesday hit his fourth and fifth home runs against the Royals this season: “He’s the most amazing hitter I’ve ever seen. You make a mistake, and he hits it a mile.” …
Angels fans remember.…
If David and Travis Wear make themselves available for the NBA draft after the 2011-12 season, in which the 6-foot-10 twins will be third-year sophomores and UCLA will play its home games at the Forum, they will never play a game at Pauley Pavilion. …
Former teammates of John Rudometkin, a two-time All-American who led USC to its last outright conference basketball title 49 years ago, wonder why his No. 44 has not been retired.…
The last U.S. male to reach the quarterfinals at the French Open was Andre Agassi.…
It was seven years ago.…
Ian Laperriere of the Philadelphia Flyers, a popular and scrappy figure during his 8½ seasons in Los Angeles, gives Kings fans a rooting interest in the Stanley Cup finals.…
Flyers Chairman Ed Snider this week called Lappy “the toughest hockey player I think I’ve ever seen.” …
One hundred years ago this month, Cy Young pitched an 11-inning complete game for his 500th major league victory.…
Jamie Moyer, the leader among active pitchers with 263 victories, is a 24-year veteran, which puts him on pace to pick up win No. 500 in 2033, when he’s 70.…
A Sporting News ranking of college football’s top 100 teams slots Alabama at No. 1, USC at No. 16 (behind Oregon and Oregon State) and UCLA at No. 46.…
Noting former NASCAR driver James Neal led police on a chase that “at times resembled a NASCAR event,” Brad Dickson of the Omaha World-Herald writes, “I guess that means instead of the fleeing suspect, TV cameras showed Danica Patrick doing 40 in the slow lane.” …
Jeff Bagwell and Frank Thomas were born on this date in 1968 and, 26 years later, the Houston Astros and Chicago White Sox first basemen were the MVPs in their respective leagues.…
Lakers fans might find it hard watching Jack Nicholson wave the green flag Sunday at the Indianapolis 500.…
Maybe Jon Lovitz’s check to the Dodgers is in the mail.…
Yeah, that’s the ticket.
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