What a difference a series makes for the interested and interesting Lakers
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No one’s saying the Lakers look disinterested now.ÃÂ
This will be Derek Fisher‘s eighth appearance in the Western Conference finals -- and Kobe Bryant‘s seventh.ÃÂ
Fisher made it with the Utah Jazz in 2007, when Bryant was busy torching the Lakers brass in an amateur video.ÃÂ
Fans in Salt Lake City still whining about Fisher’s departure from the Jazz in July 2007, when he was released from his contract and signed with the Lakers, seem to forget that he walked away from what was then the better team.ÃÂ
It wasn’t until Pau Gasol arrived in February 2008 that the Lakers became a championship contender.ÃÂ
Says Phoenix Suns Coach Alvin Gentry of his team’s face-sacrificing leader, Steve Nash, “I thought he had a better year this year than the years he won the MVPs.” ÃÂ
Noting that Nash & Co. won a playoff game last week in their bilingual “Los Suns” jerseys, reader Janice Hough of Palo Alto e-mails to suggest the Lakers try out “The Angeles.” ÃÂ
Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic are on a rampage.ÃÂ
With Andre Ethier drawing Triple Crown attention, reader Charles Reilly of Manhattan Beach e-mails to remind that Ted Williams twice won the Triple Crown -- and failed to carry the MVP vote either year.ÃÂ
In 1942, he lost out to New York Yankees second baseman Joe Gordon and in 1947 he was runner-up to Joe DiMaggio.ÃÂ
Williams also was runner-up in 1941, when he hit .406 but DiMaggio put together his 56-game hitting streak.ÃÂ
If Mike Piazza makes the Hall of Fame, of course he’d want to be enshrined as a member of the New York Mets rather than the team that dumped him in an idiotic trade.ÃÂ
Dallas Braden‘s perfect game on Mother’s Day prompted an e-mail from reader Ed Golden of Northridge, who notes that Jim Bunning of the Philadelphia Phillies pitched his perfect game against the Mets on Father’s Day in 1964.ÃÂ
As the weather warms, Hideki Matsui has cooled.ÃÂ
The Kings’ 2008 trade of Michael Cammalleri looks worse every time he scores another huge playoff goal for the Montreal Canadiens, which seems to be every other day.ÃÂ
In a poll of USA Today readers asking who would be remembered as the NFL’s best player of the last decade, 45% voted for Peyton Manning, 34% for Tom Brady, 8% for Ray Lewis and 3% for LaDainian Tomlinson.ÃÂ
Former USC linebacker Brian Cushing had long been suspected of steroid use before he failed a drug test taken last fall.ÃÂ
Stanford, after winning the NCAA men’s volleyball championship last weekend, has won national titles in 34 consecutive years, a streak that beats USC’s longest by eight and UCLA’s by 18.ÃÂ
How can Tiger Woods say for certain that there’s “zero connection” between his infamous November car crash and the neck injury that forced him to withdraw during Sunday’s final round of the Players Championship? ÃÂ
Speaking of Woods, he no longer seems a lock to break Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 major championships, though with 14 he remains ahead of the Golden Bear’s pace.ÃÂ
The inaugural inductees at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, which opened Tuesday in Charlotte, N.C., include Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Junior Johnson, Bill France and Bill France Jr.ÃÂ
John Kukuruda of East Nicolaus High in Northern California has pitched four consecutive no-hitters, a state high school record but still two short of a national record, believe it or not.ÃÂ
Each of Kukuruda’s no-hitters has been shortened because of a 10-run mercy rule, three lasting five innings and the other six.ÃÂ
A golf tournament benefitting the Make-a-Wish Foundation of Greater Los Angeles is scheduled for Saturday at the Hidden Valley Golf Club in Norco.ÃÂ
Information: ekmgt.com. ÃÂ
When a message on the video board at Dodger Stadium on Saturday asked fans to signal if anyone was hindering their enjoyment of the game, reader Ross Goldberg of Westlake Village says he texted the following: “ Charlie Haeger is hindering our enjoyment. Please go out and sign a pitcher.” ÃÂ
That probably wasn’t what club executives had in mind.
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