Now Harris Should Listen to Soothing Voice of Reason

Del Harris sounds a little like the late Spiro Agnew, leading the charge against the nattering nabobs of negativism. After a brilliant victory last Wednesday night over Chicago, which pretty much spoke for itself, the Laker coach again felt compelled to respond to the critics.

“I’ve had to defend this team more than any team in the last several years, and yet it’s the best team I’ve ever had,� he said. “It really is frustrating.�

It’s like that when you hear voices no one else can hear.

What critics?

From this coast to the other, everyone I know in the sports criticism business considers the Lakers among the top three teams in the NBA and the favorite to represent the West in the finals against the Bulls.

That doesn’t mean they’re perfect. They’re inconsistent, capable of losing to the Clippers by 22 points one night and beating the Bulls by 16 the next. They bore easily, often coming from far ahead to turn what should be garbage time into crunch time. They’re last in the league in free-throw shooting.

But, because I like Harris and think he’s an outstanding coach, I’ll refrain from criticizing the team at least until the end of the All-Star break.

Nick Van Exel? He hasn’t shoved a referee all season.

Elden Campbell? He makes the game look effortless.

Shaq? The glass is half full. He makes one of every two free throws.

Del, relax. You could be coaching in an organization with such modest ambitions that no one expects anything except a classy draft lottery party. I bet Bill Fitch would trade jobs in an instant.

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At a newsstand Sunday morning, a young girl whimpered when her mother started to leave. “She wants me to buy her the magazine with Dennis Rodman on the cover,� the mother said. How old is she, I asked. “Four,� her mother said. . . .

I suppose the counselor Rodman was supposed to meet with during his suspension is free to see Oliver McCall. . . .

McCall was crying? Crying? There’s no crying in boxing. . . .

I’m thinking about quitting this column here. Don’t despair, boss. That’s my “strategy.� . . .

The opening ceremony for the 1998 Winter Olympics is scheduled for a year from last Saturday. From what I hear, the Nagano, Japan, organizers are going to make Atlanta’s look, well, organized. . . .

Let me be the first to repeat that UCLA should strip the interim from Steve Lavin’s title and sign him to a contract as the head coach. . . .

If I had to vote today for Pac-10 coach of the year, I’d go with Henry Bibby. But I bet even he was surprised when a reporter asked him after Saturday’s victory over Cal if USC is the best college team in Los Angeles. Wasn’t it just a couple of weeks ago that UCLA beat USC on the Trojans’ home floor? . . .

Practicing her ballhandling for two hours at Pauley Pavilion after the UCLA-Stanford game was Sigourney Weaver. It was for a role in a movie, but she has the star power the WNBA seeks. . . .

If Andrew Shue can play for the Galaxy, why not Weaver alongside Lisa Leslie for the L.A. Sparks? . . .

Break up the Big West? Unfortunately, somebody already did. Three teams are tied for second in the West division with 4-6 records. . . .

The NBA’s popularity might be declining along with its scoring, but that wasn’t apparent at the All-Star game in Cleveland. Seats in the upper deck behind the basket that sell for $10 for Cavalier games went for as much as $300.

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Jimmy Weston, one of the people who made New York New York, died last week at 74. For more than two decades, he owned Jimmy Weston’s, a popular jazz club on East 54th frequented by politicians, entertainers and sports figures.

By the time I met him, he was a greeter and part owner at Runyon’s on Second Avenue. The New York Times obituary Saturday reminded me of his favorite story, featuring the unlikely trio of Frank Sinatra, Leo Durocher and Boots, the men’s room attendant at Jimmy Weston’s.

Feeling generous one night, Sinatra was handing out $100 tips like they were dimes. Word reached the men’s room, where Boots waited eagerly for his time to come.

He was relieved when Sinatra, accompanied by Durocher, finally visited the men’s room and ecstatic when Ol’ Blue Eyes reached for his wallet. But Durocher stopped him.

“No, no, you’ve been getting everything all night, Frank; I’ll take care of this,� Durocher said, handing Boots $2.

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While wondering what took Don Nelson so long to cut Oliver Miller, I was thinking: Jerry West should be NBA executive of the year without further discussion, Kobe Bryant won’t win rookie of the year but will be considered in the future as the year’s best rookie, I want my Fox Sports West 2.