Seems Cool Hand Luc Gets Flustered Easily

I went to the Kings’ morning skate, introduced myself to Luc Robitaille, and right away he starts yelping, “Oh no, I saw what you did to the Dodgers, oh my gosh, I’m nervous,” and he wants to know what I’m going to do to him in the newspaper.

I don’t know where some of these guys get such silly notions, but it might explain why Coach Andy Murray had to pull goalie Roman Cechmanek midway through the second period.

The media in Philadelphia ran Cechmanek out of town, and with Robitaille carrying on like he was, I’d imagine it was pretty hard on the Leaky One to flag down flying pucks while keeping one eye on the so-called monster in the press box.

“I’m going home to sleep so I’m really ready for tonight,” Robitaille said, and I know I need a good nap to stay awake when I go to a hockey game, so I understood.

After watching the Kings’ performance, it’s too bad someone woke up Robitaille for this snoozer.

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THE KINGS put out a news release announcing the suspension of defenseman Joe Corvo after he pleaded guilty to a felony count of assault and battery on a woman. I thought it was interesting the Kings pointed out in the news release that Corvo has “zero penalty minutes” this season.

Corvo was accused of grabbing a woman’s buttocks at a Boston restaurant and lounge, and then after being asked to leave, returning to punch the woman in the face. He’s supposed to do community service now -- just not in my community, I hope.

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THE KINGS have pledged to raise at least $250,000 for families of fallen firefighters and the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. The effort includes contributions from players, wives and staff members.

“Like so many others, we’ve had employees impacted by these terrible fires, and we want to help,” said Tim Leiweke, the Kings’ president. “These firefighters are heroes, and each and every one of them should know the level of support and respect the entire community has for them.”

The proceeds from the remaining tickets sold to Saturday’s game will be donated, and those wishing to join the Kings’ effort are urged to call 1-888-546-4752.

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TOO BAD Shaq and Kobe didn’t think of it. Too bad someone with the Lakers didn’t take Kobe and Shaq into a room and tell them to come out together holding a significant check in hand for the benefit of firefighters and others affected by fire. If done only for appearances, so what, as long as those in need benefited from their temper tantrums.

The Lakers will auction memorabilia, including Shaq and Kobe jerseys, and will match up to $100,000 in donations, but it’s not the same as both superstars putting their petty issues aside to help others. Too bad they never thought of it.

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THE MONDAY night game featuring the Raiders was the top-rated TV show in the Los Angeles area last week, followed by “CSI,” which goes to show you that folks in this town have an interest in things that are dead and about to be buried.

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THE CHARGERS hired Clippers’ director of sales Todd Poulsen as senior director of ticket sales, apparently figuring if you can sell anything Clipper-related, you know what it’s going to be like working for the Chargers.

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RIGHT NOW I’d imagine the Lakers’ organization is a little envious of the Clippers, who played in Japan and didn’t draw a single sportswriter from a Los Angeles-area newspaper. What would Shaq and Kobe do if there was no one there to listen to them cry?

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I’M NOT sure, by the way, that there is any interest in the Clippers returning.

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HAVING POLITICIANS weigh in on the bowl championship series seems like a lot of BCS to me.

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ON ONE side of the Hotel Figueroa, three football players from ESPN’s “Playmakers” are featured, one guilty of domestic abuse, another a cocaine user and the third demanding a new contract in midseason. This gives parents leaving Staples Center with their children the chance to point to the ad, and say, “Look kids, your heroes.”

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ON THE other side of the street there is now a Reebok ad featuring our local teams. As you might expect, one Laker model is wearing a No. 34 jersey, but instead of No. 8, the other Laker jersey features No. 20 (Gary Payton). Very interesting. One Clipper jersey, of course, is No. 42 -- Elton Brand. But the second is Quentin Richardson’s No. 3. Now why would you want a Richardson jersey when Eddie House led the team in scoring in the first game? And House’s number is? Zero. (No, that was my guess too.)

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DANIEL RIVERO e-mailed to ask about the lead story in the UCLA Daily Bruin recently: “All the Bruins needed was a spark. In search of someone to light a fire under its stagnant offense, UCLA turned to running back Maurice Drew. The highly touted freshman torched the Arizona State defense ... as the red-hot Bruins won.” “He was the hot back in this game,” running backs coach Eric Bieniemy said. “He was on fire, and there was nothing Arizona State could do to cool him down.”

Rivero asked: “Considering all the destruction of lives and property in this area, isn’t this in extremely bad taste?”

Kelly Rayburn, Daily Bruin editor in chief, e-mailed in response: “The language in Bruce Tran’s football story was used to set up a quote from a UCLA coach who used similar language. He was not in any way referring to the devastating fires in Southern California.” Unfortunately, that’s not how it comes off, and so let this be a lesson to the young reporter: Never base anything on what a coach has to say.

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T.J. Simers can be reached at t.j.simers@latimes.com.