Should Collins Admire This Kind of Leadership?

I’m not sure if we should call them the Anaheim Six or Seven or Eight, but the number of players involved in critiquing Terry Collins’ management style--not his managing, mind you--isn’t as significant as the weight those players carry with the front office.

Yes, according to sources, one of them was Mo Vaughn.

If this situation--the words revolt, mutiny and insurrection are far too strong--ever comes down to Collins vs. Vaughn, we all know who will win. Vaughn has more than 5 1/2 years remaining on a six-year, $80-million contract.

But Vaughn didn’t go to Bill Bavasi to bury the little Caesar. He went to earn his money.

As a hitter, he certainly has been doing that. His game-winning single Wednesday night was his 17th clutch (go-ahead or game-tying) RBI and 39th overall in 39 games.

Now he also is asserting himself in his role as the clubhouse leader, telling Bavasi, according to the sources, what he has seen since arriving less than four months ago.

The bottom line is that the players, Collins and his coaches are frustrated by the injuries preventing them from keeping pace with Texas in the American League West, but they have to realize that all of them--players, Collins and his coaches--are doing everything they can to win.

They don’t need a managerial change. He’s one of the best. They simply need the manager to change a little.

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The Dodgers are considering selling naming rights to their stadium, which is certain to bring howls from traditionalists. . . .

Of course, those are the same people who howl any time the subject of public financing is broached for professional sports teams. . . .

You can’t have it both ways. Owners should be encouraged to explore new revenue sources that don’t involve raising ticket prices. . . .

Considering Davey Johnson’s concerns about his team’s energy level, maybe the Dodgers should play in Pep Boys Stadium. . . .

I’m not worried about the Dodgers. It’s only June. . . .

One reader persists that I’m not cultured enough to know the first names of Merchant and Ivory. Ridiculous. Everybody knows Larry Merchant and, OK, I’m stumped on the other guy. . . .

The Clippers brought in Baron Davis for a workout. I hope he’s not turned off by our weather. . . .

I’d love to see the Lakers trade Glen Rice to Miami for P.J. Brown, then send Brown to Vancouver for the No. 2 pick in the draft as long as Jerry West intends to use that pick for Davis. . . .

Some favor Maryland’s Steve Francis over Davis, but Francis is more of a No. 2 guard whose slashing style would not complement Kobe Bryant. . . .

While too many young athletes are leaving school early to pursue professional careers, Michelle Kwan is enrolling at UCLA in the fall to enhance hers. . . .

“One problem in the past might have been that I was too focused on skating,” said Kwan, who will appear in the John Hancock Champions on Ice Tour tonight at the Arrowhead Pond and Saturday at the Sports Arena. . . .

I’m not supposed to be a fan, but I’m a fan of Mia Hamm. . . .

When Marla Messing, president of the organizing committee for this summer’s Women’s World Cup, presented her with a $1,000 check this week for the Mia Hamm Foundation, Hamm said, “I promise you this will be used to make someone’s life a little better than it was the day before.” . . .

The Sparks are encouraged by their exhibition victory last week over Detroit, but it’s a little early for them to be talking about a WNBA championship. The Shock was without Jennifer Azzi, Cindy Brown and Val Whiting. . . .

One reason it’s so difficult to win the Triple Crown is that horses have to run three grueling races against other top 3-year-olds within five weeks. But Charismatic likes to race frequently, so much so that trainer Wayne Lukas was worried the three weeks between the Preakness and Belmont might be too much time off. I like Charismatic’s chances. . . .

His jockey, Chris Antley, recently did 23 interviews in Los Angeles during a day off from Hollywood Park. . . .

He crossed paths at one television station with Jesse Ventura, whose aides asked Antley to call the governor’s former radio sports talk show in Minneapolis. . . .

Antley, who has had weight problems, has a point when he says standards should be relaxed by a few pounds for jockeys in the United States. That’s one reason Gary Stevens recently relocated to England. . . .

You’ve got to love that recent New Yorker article on soccer by Salman Rushdie. . . .

What’s next in the New Yorker--Ahmad Rashad on Middle East peace?

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While wondering if the Ducks’ ticket price increase is to pay Paul Kariya or Jeffrey Katzenberg, I was thinking: Admit that you like the Freeway Series now better than in April, it’s hard to believe the Knicks are the touchy-feely story of the NBA playoffs, Mike Fratello would turn the Clippers into the most exciting NBA team in town--if the Lakers hire him.

Randy Harvey can be reached at his e-mail address: randy.harvey@latimes.com.