Absence Makes the Heart Grow More Confused

The Lakers had just completed one of those suitcase-warping stretches--13 games in 10 cities in 21 days--the kind that when they’re over, you need to introduce yourself to your family.

It was particularly tough on Dominic Harris, the 5-year-old son of Ann Harris and Laker Coach Del Harris.

“I miss you, Dad,� Dominic told Harris. “In fact, I can’t remember when I didn’t miss you.�

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Trivia time: What university has the most NCAA basketball tournament appearances?

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Oh, noooo! Chuck Melvin of the Associated Press said there’s plenty of bad news to go around for Cleveland and Baltimore in the struggle for the Browns: “The scary thing for both cities is that one of them is going to wind up with this team.�

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Award time: Bob Verdi of the Chicago Tribune picked the horse Cigar as sportsperson of the year, despite the obvious disadvantage of not being a person. Verdi had to rule out many for the award who were, including boxer Peter McNeeley.

“[McNeeley is] the fraudulent canvas-back who went from horizontal hold to selling us pizzas,� Verdi said.

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End was in sight: How eager was New England Coach Bill Parcells to get the season over with? He held his season-ending news conference three days before the Patriots’ last game of the season, which turned out to be a loss at Indianapolis.

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We’ll see: Get ready to file this one: Atlanta Falcon Coach June Jones on today’s playoff game at Green Bay: “The weather won’t be a factor.�

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We didn’t see: Lomas Brown of the Detroit Lions, before Saturday’s 58-37 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles: “Teams fear us. I think teams should fear us. I think the only team that can stop us, is us.�

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Sure it is: Dallas Coach Barry Switzer said it was a difficult regular season, but the Cowboys still had a 12-4 record. What’s next? “I think the hard part is definitely over,� Switzer said.

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We’ll miss you: For the jilted, you Raider haters and Ram baiters, here’s a little something to tide you over during the playoffs, which neither the Raiders nor the Rams will attend.

From Oakland’s Greg Skrepenak: “It’s downright disgusting when you think of it.� From St. Louis’ Mark Rypien: “Seven and nine, ouch, that hurts.�

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Trivia answer: Kentucky with 37. UCLA is second with 31.

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Quotebook: Lee Mayberry of the Milwaukee Bucks, on the team’s new extra jersey that’s green and purple with silver and black trim and has a large deer head: “They’re nice. We’ve got Rudolph on the front.�