He Looks at the Good and Not at the Riddance

I prefer to remember Magic Johnson’s comeback with the Lakers in positive terms. . . .

Oscar Robertson didn’t play in the NBA at 36. . . .

Neither did Jerry West, Walt Frazier, Bob Cousy, Bill Sharman, Isiah Thomas, Earl Monroe, George Gervin, Sam Jones, K.C. Jones or nearly any of the great guards. . . .

But Magic did and was a factor in most of the games he played after 4 1/2 years away from pro basketball. . . .

To return for a full season at 37 would be stretching things. . . .

He already has proved to be an inspiration to those infected with HIV. . . .

Baseball lost a good man Wednesday, which was Richard Brown’s last day on the job as president of the Angels. . . .

But Brown hopes to remain in sports in an administrative capacity after taking a couple months off to visit Alaska and try to improve his golf game. . . .

All across America on Tuesday, the people who design newspaper sports pages were audibilizing. . . .

First, Magic announced his retirement. Then Brett Favre revealed that he will enter a facility for the treatment of an addiction to painkillers. And then Dwight Gooden pitched his no-hitter. . . .

It was a huge surprise that the Seattle Mariners and Colorado Rockies, two teams known for their slugging prowess in an era when the well-pitched game is the exception, were victims of no-hitters within a four-day span. . . .

Gooden is fortunate to have a manager the caliber of Joe Torre. . . .

Hideo Nomo was the Dodgers’ fourth consecutive rookie of the year, but that streak might be broken by Philadelphia Phillie pitcher Mike Grace (6-0), who will face Nomo on Friday night. . . .

The San Francisco Giants are no easy day in the park as long as they have Barry Bonds and Matt Williams in their lineup. . . .

USC isn’t expected to have much trouble beating Washington in the best-of-three series for the Pacific 10 Conference baseball title that begins at Dedeaux Field tonight at 7. . . .

The Trojans are 39-13-1, the Huskies 29-26. USC has won all 14 games in the rivalry that was last contested in 1971. The Trojans’ 24 conference wins are a school record. . . .

Vin Scully will induct his old broadcasting partner, Jerry Doggett, into the Southern California Sports Broadcasters’ Hall of Fame on Wednesday at a luncheon at the Biltmore hotel. . . .

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Five individual NCAA champions will compete in the men’s and women’s Pac-10 track and field championships this weekend at Drake Stadium--sprinter Ato Boldon, shotputter Valeyta Althouse and high jumper Amy Acuff of UCLA, hammer thrower Balazs Kiss of USC and distance runner Melody Fairchild of Oregon. . . .

Hollywood Park is offering wagering on 56 live and simulcast races Saturday, starting at 10 a.m. and including the Preakness. . . .

Hector Pena, a super-lightweight who is trained by former bantamweight contender Jesus Pimentel and also is active as a kick-boxer, will face Marc Lewis in the main event tonight on All Pro Boxing’s first card at the Pyramid in Long Beach. . . .

Former welterweight champion Carlos Palomino will be the ring announcer Friday when Peter Broudy begins fight promotions at the Veterans Memorial Building in Culver City. . . .

USC will play in a basketball tournament Dec. 6-7 at Charlotte, N.C., along with North Carolina, South Carolina and North Carolina Charlotte in the field. The Trojans probably will play North Carolina on opening night. . . .

UCLA water polo Coach Guy Baker pulled off an unprecedented double when his men’s team won the NCAA title and his women’s team the national collegiate title. . . .

It is hard to believe, but Dino Ciccarelli has more power-play goals in NHL playoff games during his career than Wayne Gretzky. . . .

The Florida Panthers are starting to remind me of the 1995 Stanley Cup champion New Jersey Devils. . . .

Everyone complains about the way the Panthers play, but they keep winning and have a goaltender, John Vanbiesbrouck, who is unconscious. . . .

The Kings could do worse than to bring back Bernie Nicholls, who is an unrestricted free agent. . . .

Nicholls didn’t contribute much to the Chicago Blackhawks in the playoffs, but might provide the Kings with some much-needed scoring punch. . . .

It’s a pity that Billy Boat, a rookie trying to win a berth in the Indianapolis 500, can’t be matched against stock car driver Lake Speed.