Why won’t Kobe Bryant say anything about Mike Brown?

Kobe Bryant’s silence regarding the Lakers’ hiring of Mike Brown as Phil Jackson’s replacement is off-putting. …

It would seem that he’s miffed about the hiring, unhappy he wasn’t consulted about it beforehand or stubbornly playing it close to the vest simply to keep everyone in suspense. …

This week, when asked about Brown at a news conference to launch a charitable foundation, Bryant defiantly told reporters, “Right now is not the time nor the place.” …

If it’s all good, why not say it? …

While the NBA Finals have averaged about 16 million TV viewers in the United States, Li Na’s victory in the French Open women’s singles final was seen by 116 million in China. …

Imagine the numbers if Yao Ming reached the NBA Finals. …

Jason Terry, who dinged Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat for prematurely celebrating in Game 2, says he’ll remove a tattoo of the Larry O’Brien Trophy from his right biceps if the Dallas Mavericks don’t win the championship. …

This is not the best time for Henrik Sedin and the Vancouver Canucks to be wondering, who’s our goaltender? …

The Boston Bruins have no such worry with Tim Thomas. …

Regarding Dodgers rookie Dee Gordon’s reportedly shortening his last name from Strange-Gordon because it wouldn’t fit on his jersey, reader Tom Black of Long Beach notes, “Jarrod Saltalamacchia has his name on the back of his jersey.” …

So did William Van Landingham, a former San Francisco Giants pitcher whose propensity for giving up home runs earned him the nickname “William Van Launching Pad.” …

Try fitting that on a jersey. …

Ordinarily, Torii Hunter wouldn’t mind sharing the major league lead with Albert Pujols, but not for grounding into more double plays than anyone else in baseball. …

Cole Hamels, asked to identify his best pitch after he again shut down the Dodgers on Wednesday night: “All of them.” …

David Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox, asked what he hit when he homered Wednesday at Yankee Stadium: “A bomb.” …

Often, less is more. …

Though Reggie Bush indicated in September that he would return the Heisman Trophy he won in 2005, he never did. …

It’s in a San Diego museum. …

Derrick Hall, CEO of the Arizona Diamondbacks, on UCLA right-hander Trevor Bauer, the team’s top pick in this week’s draft: “He has the body and style of [Tim] Lincecum, the stuff of [Roy] Oswalt and the mind of [Greg] Maddux.” …

No wonder the Diamondbacks consider Bauer a better prospect than top pick Gerrit Cole, his UCLA teammate. …

Brad Dickson of the Omaha World-Herald, on reports that Plaxico Burress might sign with the Philadelphia Eagles: “What better preparation for playing in front of Philly sports fans than two years in prison?” …

Derek Jeter’s pursuit of 3,000 hits — he should get there this month — reminds that former El Segundo High star George Brett is one of four players to compile a career batting average higher than .300 while amassing 3,000 hits and 300 home runs. …

The others: Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Stan Musial. …

Reggie Jackson, asked last week in Anaheim why Rickey Henderson always referred to himself in the third person: “If you asked him that, he’d look at you and say, ‘What do you mean, third person? There ain’t even three people in the room.’ ” …

Twenty years ago this weekend, Magic Johnson played in an NBA Finals game for the last time, compiling a triple-double in a Game 5 loss to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. …

His line: 16 points, 20 assists, 11 rebounds. …

Four months later, he announced he was HIV-positive. …

John McEnroe calls Rafael Nadal “as well conditioned as anyone you’ve ever seen on a tennis court.” …

Longtime NFL referee Jim Tunney, a former principal, will be inducted June 18 into the Fairfax High Faculty Hall of Fame. …

Information: (323) 370-1062. …

Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times, noting that Manchester United star Wayne Rooney has revealed a hair transplant: “Who says soccer players don’t like artificial turf?”

jerome.crowe@latimes.com