O’Neal Would Love This Rookie Treatment

Complaints about NBA officiating Sunday weren’t limited to the Laker game at Toronto.

And if the Lakers’ Shaquille O’Neal and the Raptors’ Vince Carter didn’t like the way the whistles were blown during the 84-83 L.A. victory, maybe they were thinking back to their rookie days, when every call seemed to go their way, a perk Cleveland’s LeBron James apparently is enjoying this season.

Washington Coach Eddie Jordan and forward Kwame Brown each got a technical foul for arguing calls on plays involving shots by James in the Cavaliers’ 104-100 victory Sunday.

“He’s a bright spot in the NBA, and he’s going to get calls here and there,” Washington guard Juan Dixon told the Washington Post after James had scored 38 points. “He played well, he made some shots, and he was able to get calls to go his way. I am a little surprised. He definitely got some bailout calls.”

Trivia time: Who played in Super Bowls in three decades for the Oakland Raiders?

Leonard vs. Hearns III? In an interview on the Steve Harvey morning radio show, former boxer Sugar Ray Leonard said he was still getting calls from Thomas Hearns about another bout. Hearns told Leonard they could earn at least $30 million. Leonard did not appear interested. “I don’t want to fight, because that would put me in the next tax bracket,” he said.

Sour grapes? Watching Carolina play New England in the Super Bowl had to be a painful experience for fans of the Philadelphia Eagles, who have lost in the NFC title game for three consecutive years.

Al Morganti of the Delaware County Times writes: “Take a look at the two teams that wound up in Houston for Sunday night’s game. They don’t even really know who they represent. The Panthers have the name ‘Carolina’ because they are supposed to represent the two Carolinas, North and South. The fact of the matter is that the Carolina Panthers are just something to fill in the time around NASCAR and college basketball.

“And the New England Patriots? For those taking notes, New England is a part of the country from Maine to Rhode Island.”

Morganti didn’t think the Patriots owned the heart of New England fans either. “That spot is reserved for the baseball team,” he wrote.

Sleepy time: Janet Jackson’s exposure at the Super Bowl did not cause a stir at the White House because President Bush fell asleep before halftime.

“I don’t want to admit it, but because this White House starts early, I missed it -- again,” Bush told reporters Monday. “But you can tell me about it.”

Trivia answer: Hall of Fame guard Gene Upshaw of the Raiders (1967-81) played in Super Bowls II, XI and XV.

And finally: If there’s another sequel to the “Bad News Bears” movie, Pete Rose would be a lock to take over the role that the late Walter Matthau made famous as the Little League team’s coach.

According to “Matthau: A Life,” by Robert Edelman and Audrey Kupferberg, the legendary actor was known for his gambling addiction. While in Florida shooting the TV series “Tallahassee 7000,” Matthau lost $183,000 betting on spring training baseball -- including $38,000 on a single game.