What was going on when I was born?

SAN DIEGO TO Bill Walton, basketball is a form of improvisational theater-- live, unrehearsed, with a unique finish each time the lights are turned on. There is no script, just a schedule. At 7:05 on those nights that the San Diego Clippers are home, the ball is tossed into the air in the center of the Sports Arena and the show begins. Walton loves the moment.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2--President Carter said tonight that conditions approved by Iran early today for the release of the American hostages appeared to offer "a positive basis" for resolving the yearlong crisis and maintaining American honor.

TOKYO, Nov. 2--When Takuji Matsuzawa, the chairman of the Fuji Bank, visits his leading American clients later this month, he will not merely invite them to join in the bank's centenary celebration.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2--President Carter probably lacks legal authority to comply immediately with the Iranian Parliament's demands that all frozen Iranian assets, as well as the assets of the late Shah, be returned to Iran and that all claims by United States companies against Iran be canceled, according to legal experts inside and outside the Government.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2--Under the stewardship of James R. Schlesinger, the infant Department of Energy was much like the man himself--aggressive, often brilliant, but also disorganized and steeped in controversy and confrontation.

FOXBORO, Mass., Nov. 2--Their smallest player, Bruce Harper, was hardly enough to bring the Jets back from a 24-0 deficit as they bowed to the New England Patriots by 34-21 today.

TEHERAN, Iran, Monday, Nov. 3-- The Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini met yesterday with the Iranian militants holding the American hostages and gave them permission to turn their captives over to the Iranian Government.

Ronald Reagan and President Carter, their already close race tightened by their debate last Tuesday, appeared to be running about even in popular support with two days to go until the Presidential election.

TAMPA, Fla., Nov. 2--The Longest Minute began as most of the Giants' games have begun this long season-- with a little hope and very little offense. With a minute to play in the first half today, the Giants were 10 points behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The nation's major corporations experienced a broad but moderate decline in profits during the third quarter, according to earnings reports released thus far. The improvement over the second quarter's results was taken as added evidence of recovery from a sharp but brief recession.

As their long season of campaigning neared an end, New York's three candidates for United States Senator sought yesterday to sharpen the attacks and defenses they believed would bring them victory tomorrow on Election Day. But there was something of a subdued air about their efforts.