Opponents Couldn’t Handle the Truth

Although he is now a member of the Laker coaching staff, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is not expected to be sitting courtside at Laker games. But maybe he should be. Having someone 7 feet 2 on the bench might be intimidating to opponents.

The Lakers already have Jack Nicholson sitting courtside at home games, which Jeanie Buss thinks might rattle opponents.

“You just never know if he’s going to bring out that character from ‘The Shining,’ ” Buss said recently on “ESPN Hollywood.”

Trivia time: Who starred as Ram quarterback Joe Pendleton in the 1978 movie “Heaven Can Wait”?

Hopes aren’t high: Prognosticators in general are not high on the Oakland Raiders, who open the NFL season tonight at New England.

David Thomas of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, picking the Raiders to finish last in the AFC West, wrote: “Throughout the off-season, the Raiders told us how high they were on new receiver Randy Moss. Then Moss told us what he has been high on.”

Who’s dying? File this one under “agents will say anything.” After Moss said during an HBO interview last month that he still smokes marijuana “every once in a blue moon,” Moss’ agent, Dante DiTrapano, tried to come to his defense.

“In an attempt to promote their dying network, they maliciously couched his remarks in a manner that is confusing and leaves room for negative interpretation,” DiTrapano said.

HBO a dying network? Wait till the Sopranos hear that one.

More Moss: “Heard about the new Oakland Raider fertilizer?” asked Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times.

“It’s guaranteed to turn your lawn silver and black, but every once in a blue moon you’ll see moss on the grass.”

Brittle ego: Cleveland Indian closer Bob Wickman says he may not re-sign with the Indians because of negative comments he has heard on talk radio.

Said Rodney Peete of FSN’s “Best Damn Sports Show Period”: “You can’t be an athlete and listen to what they say about you. Grow up!”

Loading the bases: Actress Alyssa Milano has dated New York Yankee pitcher Carl Pavano and Oakland A’s pitcher Barry Zito and now is dating Dodger pitcher Brad Penny.

Said comedian Alex Kaseberg: “Here is a woman who brought new meaning to the term ‘starting rotation.’ ”

And from Tom FitzGerald’s syndicated column: “Clearly this is a woman in need of a closer.”

Looking back: On this day in 1998, Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals hit home run No. 62 to break Roger Maris’ 37-year-old record.

Trivia answer: Warren Beatty.

And finally: UC Merced officially opened Tuesday, prompting reader Janice Hough to e-mail: “Now the battle begins among Division I powerhouses to get the new Golden Bobcats on their 2006 football schedule.”

The Oklahoma Sooners may be first in line.

*

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