Divac Is Prepared to Stick a Fork in Jazz

The Sacramento Kings and Utah Jazz resume their best-of-five NBA playoff series tonight, but why should they bother if Vlade Divac is prophetic?

After the favored Kings barely hung on to defeat the Jazz, 89-86, in the first game Saturday, Divac told Scott Howard-Cooper of the Sacramento Bee:

“I think it was their best shot tonight, and they didn’t win. So they’re done.”

Ah, bulletin-board material for the Jazz for sure. But Divac is probably right.

Trivia time: Who were the first UCLA and USC players ever selected in the NFL draft?

Wasted effort: Scott Ostler in the San Francisco Chronicle: “Guys pitching to Barry Bonds these days look like hick-town mayors throwing out the ceremonial first ball.”

More Ostler: “Fortunately, Tiger has the good grace not to refer to the Masters field as ‘My supporting cast.’ If this were a musical group, it would be Tiger Woods and the Yips.”

And, this: “The [NFL] draft has become so big, so invasive, so annoying, that many people are moving to Canada to avoid it.”

Too close for comfort: Recruiting a free agent can be taxing in the NFL.

Seahawk Coach-General Manager Mike Holmgren told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer about a player who two years ago was ready to sign with the Seahawks, but changed his mind.

“I was told at the last second that his wife couldn’t live in the same state with her mother-in-law.”

Dwindling talent pool: Cornerback Kris Richard was the first USC player chosen in the recent NFL draft--in the third round. By contrast, in 1968 USC had a record five first-round choices--linemen Ron Yary, Mike Taylor and Tim Rossovich, running back Mike Hull and receiver Earl McCullouch.

Put-on tease: Comedy writer Jerry Perisho: “Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, is trying to stop its seniors from participating in their annual end-of-the-school-year nude soccer game. It’s a weird scene. When someone scores a goal, they run around and pull on a shirt.”

Good advice: From the Yogi Berra file: “Never answer an anonymous letter.”

Looking back: On this day in 1952, pitcher Bob Cain of the St. Louis Browns outdueled Cleveland ace Bob Feller, 1-0, in a record-tying battle of one-hitters at Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis.

Looking back again: On this day in 1955, the Chicago White Sox hit seven home runs and tied a modern run-scoring record with a 29-6 victory at Kansas City.

Trivia answer: Bruin running back Chuck Cheshire by the Detroit Lions in the second round in 1936 and Trojan lineman Gil Kuhn in the 10th round in 1937 by the Brooklyn Dodgers.

And finally: A profile of ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. in the Gallery column of the San Diego Union-Tribune:

* “He owns eight TVs and watches five at a time on football Saturday and Sunday.”

* “In the weeks leading up to the draft, he goes to bed at 2 or 3 in the morning and gets up at 7 a.m.”

Briefing comment: He’s a sick dude.