THIS and that to chew on over lunch: Expect Mike to go out
with another titleDid I say the Sonics would play the Bulls in the NBA Finals?
Well, who would have thought the Lakers would actually play hard at both ends of the floor long enough to beat a quality team? Certainly not me.
Then again, the LaLa Boys got a lesson in big-time basketball from Karl Malone and the Jazz.
While the Lakers were rantin' and chantin' and stylin' and profilin' like so many fraternity brothers during rush week, the Jazz turned in another workmanlike performance.
Four games in a row.
A wonderful job by a no-nonsense team that values results over reaction.
But are they good enough to beat the ultimate winner and team player of all time?
We'll see, starting today.
I've said it before, and I stand by it today: The Bulls will take ring No. 6 and then split up.
Don't get me wrong, I like the Jazz. Karl Malone is the second-toughest matchup in the league, and guys like John Stockton, Jeff Hornacek and Antoine Carr are professionals to the core.
But Mike is Mike and the Bulls create matchup problems for the Jazz that won't be overcome.
The Pacers had guys who were big enough and quick enough -- Jalen Rose, the Davis boys, Reggie Miller, for example -- to hang with Jordan and Scottie Pippen and Toni Kukoc most of the Eastern Conference finals, but Utah cannot.
The Bulls' size, strength and game savvy on the perimeter will make up for Utah's inside power.
The Jazz are a better rebounding team than the Pacers, so this could be an interesting series.
But the Bulls are the champs and probably will be until Jordan hangs it up.
Watch closely, this might be the last time you see him in an NBA uniform.
Do you dare doubt that he will go out with anything less than another title?
So, St. Louis School is going to play a team from Japan to open its football season this fall.
Hmmm. I wonder what the spread will be on that baby?
Fifty? Sixty? More, even?
How about the over-under?
Barry Switzer once remarked before playing one of the weaker opponents on his Oklahoma schedule, "Let's tack up a quick half-a-hundred and get the hell out of here."
That shouldn't take a team as skilled as the Crusaders too long. But then, what will people do during the second half?
Rainbow baseball fans no doubt remember University of Miami's Pat Burrell, who the Philadelphia Phillies chose yesterday with the No. 1 pick in the amateur free-agent draft.
The big third baseman put on a display during the middle two games of a four-game set at Rainbow Stadium in 1997.
Burrell went 4-for-5, scored four times, drove in three and hit a home run in the Friday game.
He came back Saturday to go 3-for-3 with a double, a triple and two RBIs.
A back injury limited Burrell to just 118 at-bats this season. He still hit .432 with 17 home runs and 47 RBIs.
By contrast, the entire Rainbow team hit 21 home runs this year.
Seven of those round-trippers were socked by outfielder Darren Blakely, who was picked in the fifth round by the Anaheim Angels.
Blakely is a fine outfielder who can really cover. He has done his work in the weight room and has developed into an above average hitter. Don't be surprised if you see him in the big leagues sometime soon.
Mark McGwire -- 27 homers and an injured back.
Roger Maris, you still Da Man!
