Papelbon in pinstripes? He says that could suit him

The hearts of Red Sox Nation sank last week when closer Jonathan Papelbon said on Sirius XM Radio that he could envision playing for the New York Yankees someday.

“Oh, of course. I mean, I think if we can’t come to an agreement on terms here in a Red Sox uniform, I mean, I think that’s pretty much the writing on the wall,” Papelbon said.

He added: “Not only the Bronx, but anywhere. I think anywhere is a possibility. You always have to keep that in the back of your mind because you can’t just be one-sided and think that, ‘Oh, I’m going to be in a Red Sox uniform my entire career,’ because nowadays that is very, very rare, and hopefully we can because there’s no question I would love to stay in a Boston Red Sox uniform, but I have to do what’s best for me and play in an atmosphere where I’m wanted.”

Bottom line: Papelbon is signed through 2011, so Red Sox fans have time before commencing panic in the streets.

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Trivia time

In what sports does the defense hold the ball?

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All Kobe all the time

As the sports world grapples with its first week of Kobe Bryant withdrawal, Bryant suggested on “SportsCenter” a way to keep his face on television year-round.

“I could come be an anchor on ‘SportsCenter,’ ” Bryant quipped. “My puppet already got the head start -- me and LeBron, both sitting up there. We got a head start on our careers after basketball.”

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Almost everywhere

Newsstands in 49 of 50 states featured Kobe Bryant on the cover of the latest Sports Illustrated.

In Pennsylvania, SI went with the local angle -- a photo of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby hoisting the Stanley Cup.

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Time to bag ‘em

From David Letterman’s “Top 10 Signs Your Caddie Is Nuts”:

* Replaces your seven-iron with a garden weasel.

* Spends afternoon sipping mojitos in the sand trap.

* He’s the only caddie on skates.

* Likes to pick up divots, put them on his head and say, “Welcome to ‘Celebrity Apprentice.’ ”

* Pimped golf cart to hop up and down.

* Says he needs weekends off.

* Using bag to stow beers for John Daly.

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Trivia answer

Baseball, softball and cricket.

(Question and answer provided by reader Mike Pollak of Los Angeles.)

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And finally

From Brad Dickson of the Omaha World-Herald: “There are allegations that Friday’s election in Iran was ‘a farce, a joke, rigged.’ So it sounds like they have a BCS over there too.”

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mike.penner@latimes.com