Either way, it’s all in the family

Freshman Derrick Rose had a sensational game in Memphis’ 85-67 rout of Texas on Sunday, leaving UCLA wondering how to stop him when the Bruins face the Tigers in the Final Four semifinals Saturday.

A question that concerns Memphis fans is: Will Rose end up going pro?

Memphis Coach John Calipari, a guest on FSN’s “Best Damn Sports Show Period” last week, was asked that question -- and gave a lighthearted but honest answer.

“If he wants to do what’s right for him and his family, he’ll go pro,” he said. “If he wants to do what’s right for me and my family, he’ll stay.”

--

Trivia time

When UCLA won its last men’s basketball championship in 1995, who did the Bruins beat in the title game? Bonus points: Which Bruin was named most outstanding player of the Final Four played that year in Seattle?

--

The way it was

Xavier’s hometown newspaper, the Cincinnati Enquirer, didn’t mince words with the headline in Sunday’s editions above the game story on UCLA’s 76-57 Elite Eight victory. It read: “Battered and Bruined.”

--

A novel line

CBS announcer Verne Lundquist offered this toward the end of Xavier’s Sweet 16 overtime victory over West Virginia when Derrick Brown fouled out: “He’s the second Musketeer to foul out. One more and you could write a novel.”

--

Picture this

Tiger Woods, frustrated by cameras clicking during his backswing at the recent CA Championship in Doral, Fla., vowed to “break the . . . neck” of the next photographer who did it.

“In related news,” wrote Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel, “Phil Mickelson has applied for a photographer’s credential at the Masters.”

--

A batty idea

Billy Consolo, one of baseball’s first “bonus babies” when signed at age 18 by the Boston Red Sox out of Los Angeles Dorsey High in 1953, died Thursday at his home in Westlake Village. He was 73.

Reader Jerry Clark e-mailed a story Consolo had told him a few years ago.

Consolo, early in his career, was spotted by Ted Williams as he limped away in street clothes after a game in which he hadn’t played. He was limping because he had one of the Splendid Splinter’s bats hidden in one of his pant legs. He planned to give it to a friend.

Williams, who knew what was going on, hollered out: “Tough game, eh, Billy?”

--

Off and running

It didn’t take long for former Phoenix Suns All-Star Kevin Johnson, who is running for mayor of Sacramento, to find out that the political arena is a lot different than a basketball arena. He used to make millions playing basketball. One of the first things he did as a politician, according to the Sacramento Bee, was loan himself $500,000 to jump-start his campaign.

--

Another big stiff

Actress Joely Fisher, who stars alongside Brad Garrett in Fox’s “ ‘Til Death,” was a pregame guest of Joel Meyers and Stu Lantz on FSN West last week. Fisher, claiming Garrett is an awful basketball player, said: “You wouldn’t imagine someone 6-8 not being able to play ball at all.”

Said Lantz: “We’ve got a lot of those in this league.”

--

Trivia answer

The Bruins beat Arkansas, 89-78. Ed O’Bannon, who had 30 points in the title game, was named the Final Four’s most outstanding player.

--

And finally

Floyd “Money” Mayweather’s pro wrestling debut was a success Sunday, as the World Boxing Council welterweight champ defeated the 400-plus pound “Big Show” to remain, as Mayweather put it “undefeated in professional fights.”

Mayweather used brass knuckles to knock out Big Show, and then left to the boos of a sellout crowd in the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla. Which shows that even in the scripted world of pro wrestling, nobody likes Floyd Mayweather.

--

larry.stewart@latimes.com