He could give teams a new look

The debate goes on about whether David Beckham’s arrival will really change the stature of soccer in this country.

But Beckham’s European sports roots already have made an impact in one area, reader Patrick Bobillo notes: The Herbalife logo is the most prominent element of the new Galaxy jersey.

Here’s Bobillo’s take on what jerseys could look like if the Euro-style commercialization of uniforms continues:

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Trivia time

As Misty May, she led Long Beach State to the 1998 NCAA volleyball title. What pro athlete is now the husband of the beach volleyball star and Olympic gold medalist?

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Cash and carry

Everybody knows the Lakers own Los Angeles, so The Times’ report that Clippers guard Cuttino Mobley was among the victims of a team of burglars targeting the rich and famous doesn’t surprise us.

In this town, even the crooks are probably Lakers fans.

Mobley reportedly lost some $500,000 in cash and jewelry.

Cuttino, ever hear of a debit card?

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The real deal

In the tradition of UCLA centers changing their names -- we’re thinking of a guy whose initials used to be L.A. -- Bruins big man Lorenzo Mata is now going by his full name, Lorenzo Mata-Real.

The name honors his mother, Reyna Real.

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Duffer’s lament

No gadget is likely to improve the average golfer’s game very much, and the mention of golf-gadget inventors in this space reminded reader Steve Glass of the writings of Paul Gallico.

A onetime sportswriter who went on to write the novel “The Poseidon Adventure,” that inspired the movie, Gallico wrote a book called “Farewell to Sport” in the 1930s that included a chapter on golf that addressed the average golfer’s never-ending lust for gadgets.

“Because he is lazy, impatient, over-ambitious, and has no real love for the game as a fascinating study in self-discipline, from the day he gets his first driver in his itching fingers he is a sucker for anything that promises to improve his game or add distance to his drive or cure his slice,” Gallico wrote.

“A new ball is put on the market with a honey center that is supposed to go farther. He buys it. He would buy a ball with a maraschino cherry center or a splinter off the Taj Mahal if he were told that it is a faster and longer ball.”

As for golf books, Gallico wrote, “the only way to take strokes off your game with a book is to use it to tee your ball up in the rough.”

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Trivia answer

Florida Marlins catcher Matt Treanor, who was born in Garden Grove and played at Santa Ana Mater Dei High.

His wife, now known as Misty May-Treanor, is competing in the AVP Long Beach Open at Marina Green Park this weekend.

Treanor once told Sports Illustrated he didn’t know who May was when he met her, telling his brother, Markell, he was thinking about asking out “some volleyball player.”

“I called her Missy May,” Treanor told the magazine. “He’s like, ‘What’s with you, man? You’ve got problems. She’s one of the most famous players in the world.’ ”

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And finally

With Barry Bonds taking his record chase to Milwaukee, Commissioner Bud Selig, who lives in the area, finally ran out of excuses not to attend Bonds’ games and went to Friday’s Giants-Brewers game.

Excerpts from the top 10 reasons the reluctant Selig might yet miss Bonds’ moment, from eTrueSports.com editor Frank Coffey:

“Knitting group meets that night.”

“Conflict with hair salon appointment.”

“Scheduled for annual Packer Backer hat fitting.”

“Afraid public appearance will expose real name [Allan].”

And at No. 1 ...

“He just doesn’t like Barry all that much.”

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robyn.norwood@latimes.com