Text messages from press row ...

Four months after Nick Adenhart’s tragic death, a makeshift shrine to the fallen Angels right-hander continues to grow outside Angel Stadium. . . .

“It’s something that fans initiated,” Angels spokesman Tim Mead says, “and it will stay as long as fans feel a need for it.” . . .

Adenhart and two friends were killed early April 9, only hours after Adenhart pitched six strong innings in an Angels loss, when their car was broadsided by an allegedly drunk driver. . . .

Vladimir Guerrero and the Angels, after two nights of slumber, again broke out the heavy lumber. . . .

With five grand slams, Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals is one shy of the major league record set by Don Mattingly of the New York Yankees in 1987 and matched three years ago by Travis Hafner of the Cleveland Indians. . . .

Mattingly, now the Dodgers’ hitting coach, hit no grand slams before the 1987 season and none after. . . .

David Ortiz and the Boston Red Sox have won two World Series titles since the Yankees last won a playoff series. . . .

It would have been more fitting if the announcement that the Arena Football League was suspending operations had come from an over-caffeinated PA announcer inside a half-filled arena. . . .

If it signs lightning rod Michael Vick, the fledgling United Football League won’t stay anonymous for long. . . .

Maybe David Beckham declined an invitation to take part in “Shaq Vs.,” an upcoming ABC show in which Shaquille O’Neal competes against athletes in other sports, because the soccer star has had his fill of attention-grabbing gimmicks. . . .

Notre Dame in the last 15 years has produced fewer consensus All-Americans than Northwestern. . . .

Reggie Bush probably wasn’t thrilled with Tuesday night’s episode of the FX series “Rescue Me,” which showed characters watching a years-old sex tape featuring rapper Ray J and Bush’s ex, Kim Kardashian, and speculating as to why Bush would have bothered pursuing her after seeing such a raunchy tape. . . .

Notes one, “It beats the hell out of eHarmony.” . . .

Reader Armand Varlotta of Rancho Palos Verdes e-mails to suggest, “In response to why, despite all the other accolades, Kobe Bryant is still so disliked: Try Eagle.” . . .

As in Colorado, where six years ago this summer the Lakers star was charged with raping a 19-year-old woman. . . .

The case later was dropped when the accuser declined to testify; a civil suit was settled out of court. . . .

Attention Blake Griffin and the Clippers: Not since Tim Duncan in 1998 has a No. 1 draft pick led his team beyond the first round of the NBA playoffs in his rookie season. . . .

LeBron James, Dwight Howard, Yao Ming and Shaq are among those who didn’t even make the playoffs as rookies. . . .

Writes Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle, after seeing a nude photo of a grinning Joe DiMaggio at a San Francisco art gallery, “From the neck down it is Michelangelo’s statue of David. Neck up, it’s Huck Finn with a goofy smile.” . . .

Former L.A. Rams coach George Allen will be honored posthumously in October with a plaque on San Pedro’s Sportswalk to the Waterfront. . . .

Others who will be honored include: Olympic swimming gold medalist Mike Stamm; surfing pioneer Greg Noll; beach volleyball champions Mike Dodd and Tim Hovland; former Kings player Marty McSorley; ex-San Pedro High softball player Ashley Esparza; former Carson High football coach Gene Vollnogle; former Harbor College basketball player George Padovan; and longtime television sports anchor Ed Arnold. . . .

Reader Dan Bates of Dana Point e-mails to remind that the Cincinnati Reds compiled the best overall record in the National League in 1981 but failed to reach the playoffs because they didn’t finish first in either half of a strike-marred split season. . . .

The St. Louis Cardinals, who had the second-best record, also failed to reach the playoffs, while in the American League, the Kansas City Royals advanced despite a 50-53 overall mark. . . .

A Grapefruit League of His Own: Former Times staffer Ross Newhan, a Hall of Fame baseball writer, is busy in retirement as co-owner and operator of the Foothill Fruit Stand in Corona. . . .

Shoppers might want to stop in at 3210 Teddy Bear Lane and ask Newhan to explain the infield fly rule. . . .

Or how to pick out an avocado.

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jerome.crowe@latimes.com

T.J. Simers is on vacation.