Avalanche Defeat Is a Real Eye-Opener

Bernie Lincicome of the Rocky Mountain News, commenting on the San Jose Sharks’ 6-3 victory over the Colorado Avalanche in the opening game of their NHL playoff series:

“The astonishing thing was that the San Jose Halibuts could shoot the puck at all, trying as they were not to disturb the poor-baggy-lidded Avalanche leaning on its sticks.

“The Avalanche could beat these San Jose Salmon with their eyes closed? Well, they tried that. Now maybe they should try it with them open.”

Trivia time: In what sport besides basketball did Laker assistant coach Tex Winter excel while at USC in the 1940s?

Mass exit: Jon Saraceno in USA Today, commenting on the April firings of major league managers Phil Garner, Davey Lopes, Buddy Bell and Tony Muser:

“These days, you have more security if you’re an Arthur Andersen auditor than a baseball manager.”

More on firings: And this from Mike Lopresti in USA Today: “The Mafia doesn’t eliminate people that fast.... The scaffold is available. Next?”

Mr. Clutch II: Indiana Pacer Coach Isiah Thomas, on Reggie Miller’s outstanding shooting performance in Thursday’s double-overtime loss to the New Jersey Nets:

“He’s one of the greatest clutch players I’ve ever seen, if not the greatest. I think you have to rank him up there with [Michael] Jordan, in terms of a guy who can just make it from anywhere.”

Is it really 2002? Geoff Russell of GolfWorld magazine writes that the benchmark for closed-door country clubs to women is Scotland’s Muirfield:

“When a BBC production team showed up to do work in advance of its coverage of this summer’s British Open, the producer, a woman, was barred from the clubhouse. The club doesn’t allow women members and never allows women--even guests--in its clubhouse.”

Just something to do: Mike Rutsey of the Toronto Sun, commenting on the 12,751 who attended a Blue Jay game Tuesday night--smallest crowd in SkyDome history--instead of watching the Maple Leafs play the Islanders in the seventh game of their playoff series:

“Now we know how many people hate hockey and the Maple Leafs in Toronto.”

Looking back: On this day in 1983, the San Antonio Spurs set an NBA playoff record with 51 assists in a 145-105 victory over Denver.

Trivia answer: Track and field. He was a pole vaulter, clearing 14 feet with a bamboo pole. He finished fourth in the 1946 NCAA meet.

And finally: Yao Ming, the 7-foot-5 center from China, worked out recently in Chicago before NBA team officials and reporters, then released a curious statement, which read in part:

“I hope I have not disappointed you with my performance today. Proper credit is also due to members of the media.... Your resourcefulness and work ethic are something I think we players should emulate....

“I look forward to taking each and every one of you to dinner sometime in the future. But the check is on you if your reporting makes me look bad.”