Penthouse and outhouse in same arena

When it comes to a ranking of NBA owners, Los Angeles has the best and worst.

SI.com recently ranked the top five and bottom five owners in the four major sports leagues, with the Lakers’ Jerry Buss finishing first and the Clippers’ Donald Sterling last.

The website’s take on Buss: “In retrospect, Lakers fans almost feel silly for calling Buss onto the carpet for dealing Shaquille O’Neal and putting up with Kobe Bryant’s repeated trade requests. All is well in Lakerland again, as the organization has rebuilt itself into what may be the third dynasty of Buss’ tenure.

“The Lakers made the postseason for the 28th time during Buss’ 31 years. They’ve also won more than 60 games eight times, not to mention eight championships in 14 NBA Finals appearances. Beneath all that glitz and glamour is an organization that clings fast to its tradition: Magic Johnson is a part-owner, Mitch Kupchak is the GM and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kurt Rambis and Brian Shaw are assistant coaches.”

On Sterling: “There is no American sports franchise more associated with futility than the Clippers, who have posted only two winning seasons under Sterling’s ownership. Marquee players have come and gone -- including Danny Manning, Dominique Wilkins, Lamar Odom, Elton Brand and Baron Davis -- and none has been able to turn around the losing tradition.

“Though they’ve achieved some level of stability in the past few years -- notoriously cheap Sterling has cracked his checkbook a tiny bit, and Mike Dunleavy is now the longest-tenured coach in franchise history -- the team is mired in its old losing ways, eclipsing 60 losses for the eighth time under Sterling.”

Trivia time

Which major leaguer stole at least one base in four decades?

Name games

Toronto Raptors forward Chris Bosh has his name back but had to go to court to do it.

Bosh sued Luis Zavala and his company Hoopology.com, which had registered chrisbosh.com, to turn over the domain and cease all infringing content. Bosh also received a $120,000 judgment, which includes attorneys’ fees and costs.

“My intent was to make sure that consumers find me when they are looking for me on the Internet, rather than a website that is confusing and tries to make money off my name and my intellectual property,” Bosh said in a statement.

Foiled again

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo plays golf the same way he plays NFL playoff games: Once again, he failed to make the cut.

For the second year in a row, Romo failed to advance to sectional qualifying for the U.S. Open. In a local tournament at Dallas National Golf Club, he shot an 80 -- including 44 on the back nine after shooting even par on the front nine in the rain.

Just as well. The first day of the U.S. Open, June 18, is the last day of the Cowboys’ veteran mini-camp. And the Open will be held at Bethpage Black on Long Island, easily accessible for booing New York Giants fans.

Trivia answer

Ted Williams.

(Question and answer provided by reader Stuart Tower of Los Angeles.)

And finally

From Phil Mushnick of the New York Post, putting the $9,500 purchase price of Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird in perspective: “Less than four tickets to a Yankees game.”

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mike.penner@latimes.com