A Ball-jordan matchup pretty unlikely to happen

Now that Lamelo Ball is a member of the Charlotte Hornets, some basketball fans are hoping that the one-on-one game between his outspoken father, Lavar, and six-time NBA champion Michael

Jordan might actually come to fruition, per the Associated Press.

But Ball, who was drafted No. 3 overall by Jordan’s Hornets, said during his introducnews tory conference Friday that he “doesn’t think it’s going to happen.”

“And I think we know how it would turn out, to be honest,” Ball said with a smile.

When asked to elaborate, Ball replied, “Well, I mean it is my pops and my boss, so I’m on both sides now.”

Lavar Ball (above) turned heads when told USA TODAY Sports in 2017 that he “would kill” Jordan in a one-on-one game in his prime. Ball averaged 2.2 points while playing at Washington State while Jordan was a 14-time NBA All-star and 10-time scoring champion.

Jordan addressed the remarks six months later at his Flight School basketball camp, saying, “You’ve got to understand the source.”

“He played, I think, college, maybe?” Jordan said. “He averaged 2.2 points per game. Really? It doesn’t dignify an answer, but I’m going to give it to you because you asked the question. I don’t think he could beat me if I was one-legged.”

Trivia question

On this date in 1978, second baseman Lou

Whitaker, who batted .285 for the Tigers, won the American League Rookie of the Year, receiving 21 of 28 votes. The runner-up was a pretty good pitcher who went on to win an AL Cy Young, went 170-91, won two ERA titles and was a four-time All-star. Who was it?

Wrigley a real landmark

Wrigley Field, the 106-year-old baseball shrine that’s the Cubs’ home, has been designated a National Historic Landmark.

U.S. Secretary of the Interior David L.

Bernhardt announced the designation Thursday, saying the ballpark has played a significant role in Chicago’s history and the history of professional sports.

The historic landmark status will give the Ricketts family, who own the Cubs and spent about $1 billion renovating the ballpark, access to federal income tax credits on the “1060 Project” that started at the end of the 2014 season.

National Historic Landmarks are buildings, sites, districts, structures and objects that have been determined by the secretary of the interior to be nationally significant in American history and culture, federal officials said.

They said it

• From Dwight Perry of The Seattle Times: “Tryptophan might not be the only thing putting you to sleep on Thanksgiving Day. The first two games in the NFL’S Turkey Day lineup? Texans (4-5) at Lions (2-7) and Washington (2-7) at Dallas (2-7).”

• From Steelers QB and Miami (Ohio) product Ben Roethlisberger, to reporters, after coach Mike Tomlin said 9-0 Pittsburgh playing the 1-8 Jaguars is “not a Big Ten team playing a MAC opponent”: “I’ll get him back, don’t worry. I have to figure out what conference William & Mary (Tomlin’s alma mater) is in, and we’ll say something about that.”

• From Saints coach Sean Payton, joking on a Zoom call to reporters, when asked about QB Drew Brees’ injury status: “No update. I’m eating a bagel. I was hoping to be chewing it when you asked.”

• From Dan Daly of Profootballdaly.com, on President Trump’s 1-31 record in electionrelated lawsuits: “Think of it this way: Chris

Dudley shooting free throws with the wrong hand.”

Trivia answer

Yankees left-hander Ron Guidry.