His Psychic Friends Would Be So Proud

Before the New York Mets traded for Mike Piazza on Friday, Newsday’s Shaun Powell was already campaigning for the deal:

“What’s undeniable is this: The Mets want him. They could use him. He could help them. He’ll be in Cooperstown some day, which is more than you can say for anyone currently in a Mets uniform.

“He carries a big bat, swings for the seats and also hits for high average. He’s an exciting, charismatic presence who would make people notice a boring team. He’s one of a handful of players that fans would actually pay to see.”

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Trivia time: Who holds the Laker playoff record for three-point field goals in a career?

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Shaq a Hack? Shaquille O’Neal in the current edition of ESPN the Magazine on being fouled:

“I’m a nice guy and all, but one day, I’m gonna get fouled the wrong way, and I’m gonna turn around and I’m going to break somebody’s eye socket. I promise you.

“That . . . with Rudy T. and Kermit Washington? I’m going to do it again, and if they want to suspend me for 20 games and fine me, I don’t give a you-know-what.”

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Parade time: Woody Paige in the Denver Post: “Only two people in Colorado believe John Elway should retire--he and I. Elway should go out on top, but he won’t and can’t.

“Before his birthday [June 28] and mine [June 27]--Cancers always return--Elway will announce that he is marching back again and everybody will serenade him with: ‘Johnny has come marching back again, Hurrah! Hurrah!’ ”

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No respect: Nick Canepa writing in the San Diego Union-Tribune: “They aren’t horsing around. The equine skeptics aren’t real quiet when discussing Real Quiet. They believe the horse is strictly minor league, running against a bunch of ham-and-eggers who can’t field their position.

“And that he’s turning the Triple Crown series into triple-A. I hope he wins [the Belmont Stakes] by 50 lengths.”

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Ever try this? Joe Lapointe of the New York Times writing on Dominik Hasek, the Buffalo Sabres’ superb goalie:

“Even as a boy, he was extraordinarily nimble. When he played in youth leagues, Hasek would amuse his teammates by stuffing his entire right hand into his mouth.”

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Looking back: On this day in 1936, Tony Lazzeri hit three home runs, including a single-game record two grand slams, and drove in an American League-record 11 runs as the New York Yankees routed the Philadelphia Athletics, 25-2.

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Trivia answer: Michael Cooper, with 124 (he made 39.3%).

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And finally: After the late Jack Kent Cooke sold the Lakers and bought the Washington Redskins, Cooke called Chick Hearn and asked him if he would announce an exhibition Redskin game because one of his announcers was ill.

Hearn did a professional job and Cooke was interested in hiring him. Cooke asked Hearn what his salary was with the Lakers. When Hearn told him, Cooke said, “You’re worth more than that.”

Hearn replied, “That’s the contract you had me sign before you left the Lakers.”