Text messages from press row...

Silly proposition bets are as much a part of the Super Bowl as overly analytical pregame analysis, outrageously expensive commercials and star-studded halftime shows. . . .

For instance: Dreadlocked receiver Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals is favored over magnificently maned safety Troy Polamalu of the Pittsburgh Steelers to be the first to have his hair pulled Sunday, according to odds posted at bodoglife.com. . . .

You might recall that Larry Johnson of the Kansas City Chiefs famously yanked on Polamalu’s long locks to bring him down from behind in 2006, a perfectly legal tackle that nevertheless drew a hair-trigger response from Polamalu. . . .

Polamalu reportedly hasn’t cut his hair since 2000, when he was a USC sophomore and a coach suggested he trim it. . . .

With spring training right around the corner, who are these mystery teams supposedly courting Manny Ramirez? . . .

As was evident in the late going Tuesday after Kobe Bryant fouled out, the Lakers are vulnerable without their closer. . . .

Fortunately for them, he rarely fouls out. . . .

Andrew Bynum’s rib-crunching foul against Gerald Wallace did not appear to be malicious but probably could have been avoided if the 7-footer had actually left his feet. . . .

No one outside Westwood -- and probably very few in Westwood -- is predicting a Final Four run for UCLA this year. . . .

Regarding the news that Stanford’s athletic department is projecting a $5-million loss in revenue over the next three years and is considering cutting staff and eliminating teams: Wouldn’t it be virtually painless for a certain former Cardinal golfer to write a check that would wipe out the budget shortfall? . . .

Tiger Woods probably carries $5 million in his money clip. . . .

Jerry West’s autobiography is scheduled for publication next year, but Joe Torre probably wishes it had come out this week. . . .

For reasons unknown, Syracuse waited until 2005 to retire No. 44, which was worn by Jim Brown, Floyd Little and Ernie Davis, the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy. . . .

Not all Heisman Trophy winners get their numbers retired -- neither Notre Dame nor Oklahoma has retired any numbers -- but the 10 former Pacific 10 Conference players who won the award all have been so honored. . . .

A love-starved New Yorker who hoped to raise $3 million to buy a personal ad to air during the Super Bowl fell $2.994 million short, but she says all is not lost because a production company is shopping a reality show titled, “Amy Borkowsky Will Do Anything to Get a Husband.” . . .

The $6,143 she raised will be donated to charity. . . .

Based on what he has actually accomplished inside the building, perhaps Shane Mosley and not Oscar De La Hoya is the boxer most deserving of a statue outside Staples Center. . . .

Recently hired UCLA assistant Carnell Lake, a former Bruins linebacker turned NFL safety, was a five-time Pro Bowl player who in his three best seasons with the Steelers in the early 1990s amassed 91, 85 and 83 tackles. . . .

Polamalu’s career high is 74. . . .

Noting that nine voters left Hank Aaron off their Hall of Fame ballots in 1982, reader Jerry Sondler of Rhode Island e-mails to suggest, “That should tell you all you need to know about the ‘integrity’ and ‘intelligence’ of [the voters]. . . . They’re determined to preserve their worthless ‘non-unanimous’ tradition.” . . .

Several readers e-mailed to complain that an all-time Kings starting lineup does not need two centers, so let’s demote Marcel Dionne to the second line and summon Dave Taylor to join Wayne Gretzky and Luc Robitaille on the first. . . .

Happy trails to John Nadel, retiring this week after 32 years of covering the Lakers, Dodgers, Trojans, Bruins, etc., for the Associated Press and perhaps the last of a dying breed: a sportswriter exiting the press box on his own terms. . . .

Courtside wag overheard Saturday at Pauley Pavilion, where freshman Kristi Kingma of the Washington women’s basketball team scored a season-high 25 points in a losing effort against UCLA: “What is my opinion of Kingma’s performance?!” . . .

It was not Tom Lasorda.

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jerome.crowe@latimes.com