Baron Davis

Breathtaking? And how about adding breath-stopping to the mix? The Clippers' Blake Griffin managed to do just that in one memorable quarter in his highly anticipated NBA exhibition debut, a 97-85 Clippers victory against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night at Staples Center. In all, he had eight points on three-for-six shooting and five rebounds in 21 minutes. His second quarter featured mammoth dunks and one sequence in which he went flying over the scorer's table then, just as swiftly, recollected himself and displayed some showy ball-handling skills before turning it over.

I know dogs, so I stopped by to see Baron Davis. The Clippers have built a very nice kennel, including a combination wood/glass trophy case for their so-called show dogs, which, almost needless to say, sits empty. Tim Thomas called this home earlier this season. Bow wow, indeed. Now a suspended Zach Randolph resides here as well as so many other discarded players, including druggie Ricky Davis. The NBA's version of a pound, I guess.

Admit it, you thought the shaken owner would crumble. You thought Donald Sterling would look around the smoking remains of his once-lavish Clippers team -- two best players leaving, coach steaming, star guard limping -- and he would quit. No more money. No more effort. No more Mr. Rich Guy. Admit it, you thought that this summer, the Clippers were going back to Square One. Instead, on the most glorious July Tuesday in franchise history, they have leaped to Seed Seven. Baron Davis?

Baron Davis is at the altar, ready to cement his marriage to the Clippers. He's just waiting for Elton Brand to join him. In his first public comments concerning his soon-to-be-team, Davis said Thursday it was "time to come home." "It means a lot for a kid growing up in the Los Angeles area and to be playing for the Clippers and playing in Southern California because it gives them hope," Davis said. "I want to inspire young kids in the community." Davis, a two-time All-Star, left $17.

How quickly they move on. Point guard Baron Davis signed his five-year, $65-million contract with the Clippers on Wednesday night, the same day the Philadelphia 76ers officially announced their union with Elton Brand. Davis, a two-time All-Star, gives the team what it needed heading into the off-season, a proven point guard. Now, they turn to fill the void left by Brand at power forward.

If Baron Davis is still dreaming, at least he'll be doing it in his home bed from now on. The kid who sneaked into Clippers games at the Sports Arena and the teenager who played at UCLA is now the adult who found his meandering way back to Los Angeles, introduced by the Clippers on Thursday, a day after signing a five-year, $65-million contract. Calling it a dream come true, Davis, a two-time All-Star, immediately becomes the new face of the Clippers franchise.

Luckily for the Clippers, there was still ink left in their pen Monday, when they capped a frenetic free-agency period by signing swingman Ricky Davis. Davis, 28, has averaged 14.3 points and 3.7 rebounds in 10 seasons. He was the only Miami Heat player to play in all 82 games last season. He is considered a gifted scorer, but has also butted heads with coaches. "There are things Ricky can do very well," said Elgin Baylor, Clippers vice president of basketball operations.

It seemed more like Orientation Day than Media Day at the Clippers' bright new home in Playa Vista, one part sound and vision check and another test of the temperature. Vision? There was the homecoming king, point guard Baron Davis, holding court back in his native L.A. on Monday and talking about how there is a little less of him (19 pounds), by virtue of his Jenny Craig diet. "It's like the 'after' picture," Davis said.

Baron Davis, being an intuitive kind of guy, knew if there was one Warriors-related question, well, surely another was about to follow close behind on Tuesday. He looked at his wrist. So what if he wasn't wearing a watch? Good one. That got the point across on opening day of Clippers training camp at Playa Vista. But if this was the first practice in his new Clippers life, there had to be a bit of housekeeping about his Warriors past.

FRESNO -- All that was missing from a nearly ideal night was a Dodgers win, but baseball fan Baron Davis had to limit himself to events under his control. His first appearance in a Clippers uniform in a game situation -- albeit an exhibition game -- featured the play-making Davis that you've come to expect, with 12 points, seven assists and a heavy dose of vocal leadership.