Looking for a Place to Advertise? Mop to It

Just when you think that sports teams have covered every possible inch of stadiums and arenas with advertising, they find another spot.

Foot Locker announced Tuesday that it has signed a one-year contract with the Lakers to advertise atop the mops that dry the court during games at Staples Center.

We’re not making this up. And look for other teams to follow suit.

Kurt Robinson, founder of No Sweat Wipe, the Garden Grove company that makes the mop, said, “After people see it, we hope to go out and seek other deals.”

The Lakers and No Sweat Wipe have a two-year, five-figure contract, with the second year still unsold. They will split the advertising revenue, meaning they’ve found a way to clean up while cleaning up.

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Trivia time: When Pete Newell coached at California from 1954 to ‘60, what was his record against John Wooden?

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Not all doom and gloom: Most NBA prognosticators aren’t very high on the Lakers. The New York Post’s Peter Vecsey is one exception.

Of Phil Jackson, Vecsey wrote, “When your employer believes you rate $10M per, minor details like overcoming ill-equipped centers and unconfirmed point guards should be a Marina del Rey afternoon breeze.

“Lamar Odom is every bit as good as Scottie Pippen ever was, Kwame Brown is well worth the three-year, $25M gamble, and Kobe [Bryant], about to embark on an MVP type season, is eminently coachable.”

Also, citing sources, Vecsey wrote that 6-foot-11 center Jamaal Magloire of New Orleans (since traded to Milwaukee) would have been a good addition, but the Hornets rejected a Laker offer of Chris Mihm, Devean George and a No. 1 pick.

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Trading places: Randy Hill of Foxsports.com, making predictions on things to come, wrote: “Despite a slow start, Bryant and Jackson attempt to salvage the Laker revival by agreeing to meet each other halfway. In an effort to see things from the converse perspective, Kobe begins practicing yoga and Phil pretends that he has forgotten the triangle offense.”

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This shot is no sky hook: Hill on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s role as a Laker assistant coach: “Kareem’s impact and influence are realized when 18-year-old rookie center Andrew Bynum begins snubbing reporters.”

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1-2 punch: When Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh missed the cut in the PGA Tour’s Funai Classic last month, it was the first time that the top two players in the world ranking missed the cut at the same tournament since Ian Woosnam and Nick Faldo at Bay Hill in 1992.

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Looking back: On this day in 1991, Nevada, trailing by 35 in the third quarter, came back to beat Weber State, 55-49.

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Trivia answer: 8-7. Wooden and UCLA won the first seven meetings, Newell and Cal won the next eight.

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And finally: Greg Cote of the Miami Herald, on USC’s being ranked No. 1 by the BCS: “That’s not fair. One less reason to mock the BCS.”

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Larry Stewart can be reached at larry.stewart@latimes.com.