Walton not Hall broadcaster

“Whether he’s pontificating on ESPN or ABC, Bill Walton tosses off superlatives left and right like he used to dispense the ball out of the post for the Portland Trail Blazers.

“No, that’s not correct,” continues Ray Frager, writing for the Baltimore Sun. “At least those passes he threw for the Blazers were well-thought-out.” Frager continues:

“It’s not enough for Walton to compliment someone. Everyone has to be one of the all-timers. On Wednesday night, David Robinson was described as one of the greatest forces in NBA history, and Gregg Popovich is already bound for the Hall of Fame.

“Now, Robinson was a terrific player, but would most observers place him in the ‘force’ category of Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar? Popovich could win his third NBA title with the San Antonio Spurs this season, but the fact is he has not yet and is coaching in only his ninth season. That plaque in Springfield sounds a bit premature.”

Here’s looking at you, Cohn

Sometimes you just have to trust your pop culture references, says Frager:

“On SportsCenter this week, Linda Cohn – does she ever get a day off? – said something about remembering Paris or always having Paris while introducing French Open highlights. Then she hit us over the head by saying that was a ‘Casablanca’ reference.

“C’mon, Linda, give the youngsters a little credit for knowing their movie history. And here’s looking at you, kid.”

What’s in a name?

When the White Sox were in Anaheim, Calif., earlier this week and the starting pitchers were left-hander Mark Buehrle of the White Sox and rotund right-hander Bartolo Colon of the Angels, Elliott Harris in the Chicago Sun-Times described the matchup as “Buehrle against burlier.”

“The USC baseball team played a three-game series against Oregon State in Corvallis last weekend. Brooks Hatch of the Corvallis Gazette-Times, noting that the Trojans have a pitcher named Josh Fogel and the Beavers have a pitcher named Nate Fogle, referred to the pair as “Bi-Fogles.