Text messages from press row . . .

Adding a sound and hungry Bartolo Colon to a rotation that includes John Lackey and Kelvim Escobar could put the Angels over the top in October. . . .

Of course, Colon has not been sound in quite some time. . . .

Ageless Greg Maddux, who helped pull the Dodgers into the playoffs a September ago, just might help push them out this year. . . .

Phil Jackson, in his induction speech at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame last weekend, called for radical changes in the game. . . .

“I think sometimes we put our players on too short a court with too short a basket for the way the game is now,” said the man who coached Shaquille O’Neal to three NBA titles. “I think we always must remember to respect the game. It’s a competitive game, not a contact game. It’s based on speed and skill.” . . .

With proceeds benefiting the Lakers Youth Foundation and bidding open through Friday at spcauctions.com, the Lakers are selling Elgin Baylor’s retired No. 22 jersey banner and a banner commemorating their 1987 NBA championship. . . .

Both items used to hang in the Forum. . . .

Speaking of the Forum, wouldn’t it be great if the Lakers played a throwback game in the arena where they won six NBA titles? . . .

Compared to Staples Center, the Forum is downright cozy. . . .

Peyton Manning, saying he won’t flaunt his championship ring, tells Stack magazine, “When you win the Super Bowl, you know it in your heart and mind. You don’t have to wear something that tells everyone you did.” . . .

Chad Johnson of the Cincinnati Bengals, he of the gaudy sports coat proclaiming his Hall-of-Fame future, could learn a lesson in humility from Manning. . . .

But Johnson, of course, could give lessons in showmanship. . . .

Though they weren’t on the same field, Carson Palmer got the better of Matt Leinart on ESPN’s Monday night showcase of former USC quarterbacks, Palmer leading the Bengals to a victory over the Baltimore Ravens before Leinart and the Arizona Cardinals fell to the San Francisco 49ers. . . .

The UCLA football team starts the season 0-2-1 amid great national expectations and yet no one is calling for the coach to be fired? . . .

Oh, wait, that’s not football as in football but football as in futbol. . . .

Never mind. . . .

Coach Jorge Salcedo’s UCLA men’s soccer team, ranked No. 1 in preseason polls this year, also started 0-2-1 last year before reaching the NCAA final, where the four-time national champion Bruins lost to UC Santa Barbara. . . .

In a statistical oddity that might win you a bar bet, USC has not received the opening kickoff since the 2006 Rose Bowl against Texas, booting the ball to the opposition at the start of each of its last 14 games. . . .

Of the 119 teams that play major college football at the highest level, Notre Dame ranks 119th in total offense. . . .

Though U.S. Open runner-up Novak Djokovic told reporters Sunday that he and Maria Sharapova are only friends, the pair were spotted singing karaoke duets until 5 a.m. Monday, according to the New York Post. . . .

Djokovic, by the way, says he met Robert De Niro when he and other players were invited to dine at a New York eatery owned by the actor. . . .

An auction of two historic Barry Bonds home-run balls continues through Saturday at spcauctions.com, with bidding as of Tuesday afternoon topping $105,000 for No. 755 and approaching $285,000 for No. 756. . . .

Eight-time world surfing champion Kelly Slater, competing this week in the Boost Mobile Pro at Lower Trestles near San Clemente, lists his favorite current recording artists: Citizen Cope (“I really listen to his stuff a lot”); James Morrison (“I think he’s got a great voice and he writes some really heartfelt songs”); and Paolo Nutini (“I really like this guy’s vibe”). . . .

Slater, who plays in a band called the Surfers, says of his love of music, “At times, I feel as passionate about it as my surfing. Sometimes, even more so.” . . .

Brent Musburger’s shout-out to disgraced former Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Vick during Saturday night’s telecast of the Louisiana State-Virginia Tech game seemed strangely sympathetic. . . .

Wonder what PETA thought. . . .

Will the real Fili Moala please stand up?

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jerome.crowe@latimes.com