This story has many layers

The 2005 trade that sent Caron Butler to the Washington Wizards as part of a deal for Kwame Brown has caked the Lakers with embarrassment.

While Butler went on to become an All-Star, Brown has mostly struggled and will undergo ankle surgery this week.

But the two players do seem to have one thing in common: an affinity for birthday cakes.

Brown famously displayed his during a late night in Hermosa Beach in January when he tossed one at a fellow reveler.

Butler went another route.

Earlier this month, the mother of a teenager who had briefly met Butler dropped off an invitation to her son’s surprise 16th birthday party.

Butler never formally RSVP’d, but on the day of the event he showed up unannounced and hid in the basement with the boy’s friends for the surprise.

Butler told the Washington Post that he was not worried about being inundated with birthday invitations from area teens.

“As long as I’m not doing anything, I don’t have any problem going to anyone’s birthday party,” he said. “I’m not antisocial. It’s good being around your fans.”

Trivia time

Who is the only pitcher to win World Series games in three decades?

Wright-water deal

New York Mets third baseman David Wright enjoyed a watershed moment last week when Coca-Cola bought a Queens company that produces vitaminwater drinks.

The New York Post reported that when Wright signed on to endorse the flavored-water brands, he opted for a 0.5% share of the company instead of cash.

The Glaceau company was sold for $4.1 billion, making Wright’s stake about $20 million, according to the Post.

Tough tango

A year after Emmitt Smith glided to victory on “Dancing With the Stars,” speedskating champion Apolo Anton Ohno made it two in a row for athletes.

The Olympic gold medalist and partner Julianne Hough defeated former ‘N Sync singer Joey Fatone and boxer Laila Ali to win on his 25th birthday last week.

After a flight from Los Angeles to New York and a round of television interviews, Ohno told the Associated Press, “Wow! I don’t know what day it is. It felt like somebody was punching my eye sockets all night.”

Sounds like a gig for Oscar De La Hoya.

Judicial restraint

Cincinnati Bengals Coach Marvin Lewis made news last week during a radio interview when he accused local law enforcement of “profiling” players. The next day, he retracted the statements.

The Bengals’ numerous brushes with police, however, caused Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times to pose the following:

“Q: Why don’t Bengals receivers like to run sideline patterns?

“A: Because they’d have to appear in front of a side judge, a line judge or a back judge.”

In a lather

Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun apparently is a big fan of cyclist Floyd Landis’ arbitration hearing, if not the famous race he won.

“In the context of the war on performance-enhancing drugs, the controversy could have global implications, but it’s playing out like an episode of ‘As the World Turns,’ ” Schmuck wrote.

“I don’t know how it’s going to end, but I can’t wait to find out. Frankly, that’s more than I could say about the Tour de France.”

Trivia answer

Hall of Famer Jim Palmer of the Baltimore Orioles won World Series games in 1966, 1970, 1971 and 1983.

And finally

Former boxer George Foreman has a new book: “God in My Corner.”

Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle took a swing at the title.

“I’m no theologian,” Ostler wrote, “but I like to think God has better things to do than hold a spit bucket.”

gary.klein@latimes.com