Phillies’ Roy Halladay has a chance to make more postseason history

Johnny Vander Meer’s remarkable 1938 feat of pitching consecutive no-hitters probably won’t ever be topped, but throwing two in a row in the playoffs might qualify. …

Roy Halladay has a shot. …

Don Larsen never truly had a chance, his next postseason start after his perfect game in the 1956 World Series not coming until a year later — in the ’57 World Series. …

Larsen gave up a leadoff single to Red Schoendienst on his way to a Game 3 victory over the Milwaukee Braves. …

Reggie Jackson, a.k.a. “Mr. October,” hit nine of his 10 World Series home runs against the Dodgers. …

Neither will be involved this year, Jackson because he now stirs his drinks in retirement and the Dodgers because their toxic ownership situation trumps their need to succeed. …

Arte Moreno views his team from a fan’s perspective — and the Angels faithful, of course, would have it no other way. …

Brent Musburger might be wise to seek a second opinion. …

Evan Longoria and the Tampa Bay Rays may be champions of baseball’s toughest division, but they’ve yet to look the part against Cliff Lee, C.J. Wilson and the Texas Rangers. …

Noting that USC’s defense has struggled under coordinator Monte Kiffin, reader Dave Macaray of Rowland Heights e-mails to suggest, “If Lane Kiffin gets fired, maybe he’ll call his memoir ‘$#*! My Dad Said.’” …

Lakers fans might do a double-take when seeing rookie Devin Ebanks, whose resemblance to former Lakers forward Trevor Ariza goes beyond their both wearing No. 3. …

Ron Artest, telling Hoops Hype he’d like to box or play football after his contract expires: “I wish I could do it now.” …

From Mike Garrett in 1963 to Marcus Allen in 1981, USC cemented its “Tailback U” reputation by producing 15 Pacific 10 Conference rushing champions in 19 seasons. …

Since then, the Trojans have produced only two: Steven Webster in 1987 and Ricky Ervins in 1989. …

UCLA in the same period has churned out four: Gaston Green in 1986, Kevin Williams in 1991, Karim Abdul-Jabbar in 1995 and DeShaun Foster in 2001. …

Johnathan Franklin is currently running second in the Pac-10 behind runaway leader LaMichael James of Oregon. …

According to a survey of NBA general managers, the league’s top shooting guard is Kobe Bryant and the top power forward (in a tie with Dirk Nowitzki) is Pau Gasol. …

Others who rank No. 1: point guard Deron Williams, small forward LeBron James and center Dwight Howard. …

The New England Patriots, 14-1 shots to win the Super Bowl last week, improved to 11-1 this week after trading Randy Moss, according to odds posted at bodog.com. …

The Minnesota Vikings went from 7-1 shots to 13-2. …

Cornerback Vontae Davis of the Miami Dolphins, dismissing suggestions that Moss was less than fully motivated Monday night when Davis & Co. held him without a catch: “Hell, no, he wasn’t relaxing. The Randy Moss I know, if he goes deep and you’re not covering him, he’ll put you on ESPN.” …

Noting that the late George Blanda finally walked away from the NFL when he was 48, Brad Dickson of the Omaha World-Herald writes, “ Brett Favre calls that early retirement.” …

Andrew Luck and Stanford are favored by 10 points over USC this week, marking the first time the Trojans have been double-digit underdogs since September 1998. …

Florida State, as a 13½-point favorite, rolled over Paul Hackett’s Trojans that day, 30-10, at Tallahassee, Fla. …

Andre Ethier’s early surge sparked talk of a Triple Crown run, but by season’s end the Dodgers right fielder led neither the National League nor his own fourth-place team in batting average, home runs or runs batted in. …

The Kings, featuring a goaltending tandem of Quick and Bernier, have started their own Jonathan Club. …

Only in hockey could the season start at the Finnish line. …

With bombastic ex-ESPN talk-show host Stephen A. Smith set to tape a pilot for Showtime, Michael Hiestand of USA Today writes, “Recycling isn’t always good for the planet.” …

Regarding a “60 Minutes”/Vanity Fair poll ranking Elin Nordegren as the world’s third-most eligible woman behind Jennifer Aniston and Halle Berry, reader Ralph Brax of Lancaster e-mails to ask, “Did Jamie McCourt come in fourth?” …

Actually, Betty White did.

jerome.crowe@latimes.com