Notes, quotes and things picked up on the run from coast-to-coast and all the stops in between and beyond.

Will it be a sweep in four? The Los Angeles Lakers won the first one here at the Staples Center with an easy 100-75 win and a 101-96 overtime struggle in Game 2. Will the next one or two in Orlando be placed inside the box too? And will Kobe Bryant finally have his fourth ring? Game No. 3 was set for June 9 in Orlando and Game 4 is tonight (June 11) with the Lakers favored to wind up the series. Games 5, 6 and 7 will not be necessary, if something amazing happens-like a sweep. Game 7 is scheduled for the Staples Center on the night of June 18.

The key to a Lakers’ victory against the Magic will be the Lakers’ super (second game scorers are in brackets) trio of Kobe Bryant (29), Pau Gasol (24) and Lamar Odom (19). Dwight “Superman” Howard was a little more super in Game 2 for Orlando than he was in Game 1 as he hit for 17 points. However, the men who kept the Magic in the game were Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu with 34 and 22 points, respectively.

The Lakers will have to do a monster job against “Superman” like they did in the first two games.
And put on a better performance than LeBron “King” James’ little Cleveland Cavaliers helpers did. Andrew Bynum averaged only 8.5 points and two rebounds in a pair of games versus the Magic’s “Superman” during the regular season. In Game 2 Bynum scored only five points and had an equal number of fouls. Derek Fisher and Trevor Ariza chipped in with 10 and eight crucial and timely points respectively in Game 2.

Dwight Howard and his Orlando Magic have something Kobe Bryant and his Lakers don’t have—a Black general manager—Otis Smith. Smith must be pretty good. He was third in the balloting for Executive of the Year, behind second place finisher Danny Ferry of the Cleveland Cavs.

Some Cleveland fans are predicting “King” James will make his exit after his contract ends next season. Some Cavs fans (33%) say: “No. A real super star finishes what he starts.”

A Cleveland reader, John Howard, told USA Today: “LeBron will not win a title in Cleveland, period! The Cavs still ‘have no team’ . . . playoffs showed everyone that Batman still has no Robin!”

The L.A. Sparks made a smashing, 78-58, debut against Bill Laimbeer’s defending WNBA champion Detroit Shock at the Staples Center. Super standouts for the Sparks were Betty Lennox (17), DeLisha Milton-Jones (10), Vanessa Hayden (12), and Tina Thompson (18), the former Morningside High and USC star. That other ex-Morningside High and USC great, Lisa Leslie had to settle for six points on the day. Candace Parker, the Sparks superstar, the Mrs. Everything is still on maternity leave.

Switchreels…

Did you notice, the Los Angeles Dodgers posted a 20-9 record in May? That was without Manny Ramirez, who isn’t due back from his 50 games suspension, for violating Major League Baseball’s (MLB’s) drug policy, until July 3, 2009.

Check it? The Dodgers Orlando Hudson batted .370 (27-for-73)—which ended May 20 for the National League West leading Dodgers—the best record in all of baseball.

Dodger James Loney has also been on a real tear in recent days. He is reportedly on a pace to drive in 123 runs. And in the process he may not smack anymore than six homeruns. With his 41 RBIs Loney currently ranks seventh in the National League. Not too tacky.

Only one MLB team managed by an African American is currently in first place—He is Ron Washington of the Texas Rangers.

Washington’s American League West leading Rangers also won 20 games in May. This is the second time the Rangers have ever won 20 games. Texas won 21 in September 1978. The Rangers star Michael Young was two-years old at the time.

In the L.A. Angels first ever game in 1961 at old Wrigley Field, 42nd and Avalon Blvd., little Albie Pierson scored the team’s first run in history. Ex-Angel and future L.A. Dodgers star Sweet Lou Johnson played in that game and the next day he was released and the Angels brought in Leon “Daddy Wags” Wagner a long time Angel favorite, as his replacement.

For the record, he’s back. Angels’ outfielder Vladimir Guerrero was 6-for-25 with a pair of doubles in his first six games back. Guerrero missed 35 games, because of injuries. Look for the Angels to challenge the Texas Rangers for first place in the AL West.

Will Barry Bonds’ alleged use of steroids ever come to trial? The Ninth District U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has delayed the start of the trial indefinitely.

Switchreels…

Former Green Bay Packers safety Mark Murphy, who served as an assistant coach on LeBron James’ high school team, told ESPN: “I’ve been around a lot of great receivers. I tell people that I rate my top receivers coaching, playing or watching as James Lofton (Raiders assistant coach and Hall of Famer), Jerry Rice (Hall of Famer), Steve Largent (Hall of Famer) and LeBron James.
People laugh at me, but its true. I felt like that was one kid who could’ve gone from high school to the NFL and played.”

Former San Francisco ‘49ers defensive end Charley Powell went from San Diego High to the National Football League and played. Charley was a great all around athlete in baseball, football, boxing and track and field. Charley’s little brother, Art Powell, was one of the greatest wide receivers in Oakland Raiders and NFL history.

The late Gene Upshaw’s replacement as executive director of the NFL’s Players Association, DeMaurice Smith, isn’t hitting it off with some veteran players. Reason: Smith says if there is a lockout by the owners in 2011, retired players’ benefits would be reduced by 80% while it lasts. A number of retired players meeting in Las Vegas, recently, about their clashes with the union declared their benefits are protected by law-lockout or not.

The NFL’s Players Development program will be conducted at South Gate High, June 22-27. Its five days of free intense football drills. Additional information may be obtained from the site manager, Reginald Grant, at (323) 376-1057. Coaches should contact Coach Grant to become paid staff members.

When the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers visited the White House recently President Barack Obama put them to work. Let the president explain: “We’re doing something a little bit different here today than when sports champions usually come to visit the White House.”
President Obama joined the Steelers on the South Lawn to stuff 3,000 USO care packages with peanuts, razors, chewing gum, food, and other products to be sent to U.S. Troops overseas.

Receiver Hines Ward on the visit to the White House: “I got to chat with the President while assembling the care packages. That was awesome. I’m on his right side-for 30 minutes. I was President Obama’s right hand man! Getting a chance to kick it with the president for 20 or 30 minutes was awesome, something I will cherish the rest of my life.”

Switchreels...

Tyson Gay tuned up for the 100 in the U.S.A Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, June 25-28, with a 19.58 clocking in the 200 (third best time in history) in the Reebok Grand Prix in New York City on May 31. This was Gay’s first 200 since pulling a hamstring muscle at the Olympic Trials, 11 months ago. Gay’s agent, Mark Wetmore, expects the promoters to bid for a showdown race between Gay and Usain Bolt, the Olympic games double sprint champion, in the London Grand Prix July 24-25.

Tiger Woods established another magic moment in his illustrious career in The Memorial over the weekend as he fired a 65 on the final round for his fourth title in this event and a 12 under par victory. This was Tigers’ 20th comeback championship.

Golf magazine, a Sports Illustrated publication, on Tiger Woods, who is getting ready to play in the U.S. Open: “Few players display the personality characteristics of the intimidator better than Tiger Woods.”

That’s all of my time. Thanks for your time. This is BPJ reporting. Have a ball.

- Brad Pye, Jr., can be reached at Switchreel@aol.com.