Dodgers avoid Furcal talk but ask, ‘Smoked or regular?’

One day after Page 2 challenged the Parking Lot Attendant to show us something, the team makes this major announcement:

DODGERS HOST ANNUAL HOLIDAY HAM GIVEAWAY

When it comes to hams, it almost goes without saying, but yes, Tommy Lasorda will be involved.

Now as good fortune would also have it, the Page 2 challenge hanging in the air, the Parking Lot Attendant got a wonderful opportunity Tuesday to show the fans of Los Angeles he’s as serious about winning as he says he is.

Early in the day almost every Internet site was quoting anonymous sources saying shortstop Rafael Furcal had agreed to terms with the Atlanta Braves. A big blow to the Dodgers, and I’m sure someone in the Dodgers organization would have explained it was a big blow to the Parking Lot Attendant.

Times reporter Dylan Hernandez took a different tack and waited to talk to someone on the record and go with some facts, Furcal’s agent telling him there was no agreement with the Braves. Eventually, other Internet sites caught up.

More than that, Furcal’s agent told Hernandez he was going to give the Dodgers one more opportunity to persuade Furcal to stay with the team.

Now stepping to the plate: Frank McCourt.

Well, as you know, the Parking Lot Attendant doesn’t return calls to anyone who criticizes him, and apparently the team’s PR blogger, Josh Rawitch, has sympathy pains and is now going silent as well.

If anyone desires “more information about the ham giveaway,” though, as the Dodgers announced in their news release, “please contact the Dodgers’ Public Relations department at (323) 224-1301 or Community Affairs department at (323) 224-1466.”

Rawitch & staff will be happy to get back to you, just don’t ask, “Where’s the beef?”

As for GM Ned Colletti, who has been pounded as much as anyone in this town, he immediately responded when asked about Furcal’s situation, and several times Tuesday.

He said he was working on keeping Furcal and would do so through the night if necessary.

Now what’s this, a flicker of life in the Dodgers organization? The McCourt handcuffs removed from Colletti? Did someone wake up, take a look at the Dodgers roster and finally decide to do something before being stuck with only leftovers?

Or do we still wake up today to learn it was all for show, another attempt to bolster McCourt’s image, while Furcal moves on in a Braves’ uniform?

If he was that close to a deal with the Braves, but wanted to give one more chance to the Dodgers, doesn’t that suggest he really wanted to stay in L.A.?

Now batting: Frank McCourt.

It’s true, Furcal has been bothered by injuries the last two seasons, but with the exception of Manny Ramirez and the dependability offered late by Derek Lowe, he’s the team’s most talented player when healthy, batting leadoff and patrolling the middle of the field.

Is there a risk in signing Furcal? Taking for granted the guy who looked at Jason Schmidt is no longer being consulted, what do the doctors say about Furcal’s back?

The Braves’ physicians reportedly have no concerns about Furcal’s back. Maybe the Internet has that all wrong too, but if not, a shortstop such as Furcal means more to the Dodgers because they will play an inexperienced Blake DeWitt at second base and a third baseman in Casey Blake who has limited range.

If he’s really interested in winning, McCourt will meet the challenge, and the first batter up for the Dodgers in 2009 will be Furcal. If he’s really interested in winning, then Ramirez drives in Furcal.

MARK TEIXEIRA was on the radio Tuesday, telling everyone he’s getting close to making a final decision -- a very nice way of saying, hey, last chance for everyone to sweeten the pot.

STOPPED BY Staples Center to check in with the Lakers, as bored so far with this season as they appear to be.

The Knicks played in Phoenix on Monday, making it one of those back-to-back games for a team traveling across the country, and yet it was the Lakers who were sleepwalking early.

You can do that when you just know you’re going to win at the end of the night.

So far the NBA looks a lot like Pac-10 football, most of the teams mediocre at best while the Lakers play the role of USC, maybe not winning by as much as their fans might want and on occasion inexplicably stumbling, but still obviously dominant.

The Trojans slipped and lost the edge needed to play in the Bowl Championship Series title game. The Lakers slipped last season and allowed the Celtics to enjoy the home-court advantage.

There is no reason why the Lakers shouldn’t win close to 70 games, given the number of games they play against so many weak opponents. There are only a handful of teams that are going to raise the pulse this year when appearing on the Lakers’ schedule.

A season ago, Phil Jackson didn’t seem to put much stock in securing the home-court advantage, but in a round-about way he said Tuesday it’s different his season, and Holy Boston, I wonder why.

He wasn’t all that specific because that would mean he had it wrong last season, but he came close.

“Too bad,” he said when it was suggested his answer wasn’t good enough. “You have to work it out.”

No, the Lakers are going to have to work it out, and start playing with the same regular-season zeal the Celtics employ, or risk suffering one of those USC-like missteps that have the potential of sabotaging an entire season.

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t.j.simers@latimes.com.