European fans eager to see Lakers

Phil Jackson might not be thrilled about the Lakers’ venturing to Europe, but European fans seem eager to greet them. …

The Lakers’ schedule includes sold-out exhibitions against the Minnesota Timberwolves, who made Spanish phenom Ricky Rubio the fifth pick in the 2009 NBA draft, and Regal FC Barcelona, the team Rubio plays for instead of the Timberwolves. …

Pau Gasol played with Rubio at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where the Spaniards lost to Team USA in the championship game. …

If ever a Dodgers fan was tempted to bribe a judge, the time is now and the judge is Scott M. Gordon. …

Desperate times, you know. …

According to conference-by-conference rankings in Sporting News Today, Matt Barkley and USC built their 4-0 record by playing the worst teams in the Big Ten (Minnesota) and Pac-10 (Washington State) and the 11th-best team in the ACC (Virginia). …

Michael Vick, in an interview airing Sunday on the NFL Network: “My whole life was a lie. …Everything from A to Z.” …

Adrian Peterson, sidestepping whispers that 2,000-yard man Chris Johnson has replaced him atop the NFL running-back heap: “I know that I am the best.” …

Formerly fumble-prone, A.P. is fumble-free in 2010. …

Indianapolis Colts President Bill Polian may have spoken out of turn when he said an 18-game NFL regular-season schedule was a “fait accompli,” but his words rang true. …

If any team should be blase about reaching the playoffs, it’s Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees, who nevertheless uncorked their champagne and celebrated like all the rest. …

Noting that a phone number on boxes of Chad Ochocinco cereal connected callers to a phone sex line, reader Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, Calif., e-mails to suggest, “He is now the top wide receiver in fantasy points.” …

Shaquille O’Neal, listed at 7 feet 1 and 325 pounds, calls himself a “mini Charles Barkley.” …

The Big Shamrock, 38, is the NBA’s oldest player. …

Thirty-five years ago Friday, in a bout ESPN later called the greatest sporting event of all time, Muhammad Ali won by technical knockout over Joe Frazier in the “Thrilla in Manila.” …

Alex Rodriguez’s remarkable run of productivity: at least 30 home runs and 100 runs batted in 13 years in a row. …

The Philadelphia Phillies’ starting trio of Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt has inspired a nickname: H2O. …

Reader Rob Ryan of Culver City wonders how rare it is for a club RBI leader to rack up fewer home runs than stolen bases, as James Loney of the Dodgers might do this year. …

Only three Dodgers have done it: Willie Davis in 1972, Steve Garvey in 1976 and Russell Martin two years ago. …

California, which announced this week that it would drop its baseball program after next season, produced an American League most valuable player (Jackie Jensen), a National League MVP ( Jeff Kent) and a pitcher who was a 20-game winner for the Angels and the Dodgers (Andy Messersmith). …

Led by Jensen, who also was an All-American halfback, the Bears won the inaugural College World Series in 1947, defeating a Yale team led by future President George H.W. Bush. …

Question that Dez Bryant was left to ponder this week: What does one leave for a tip on a dinner bill of $54,896? …

On Oct. 1, 1961, Roger Maris hit his 61st home run of the season, breaking a record set by Babe Ruth in 1927. …

Two years later, also on Oct. 1, Mark McGwire was born. …

Rod Carew turns 65 Friday. …

According to a sports-book manager at bodog.com, the Pittsburgh Steelers without Ben Roethlisberger were 50-1 shots to open the season with four consecutive victories, which they’ll have done if they win Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens. …

Stuart Sternberg, principal owner of the Tampa Bay Rays, says the club’s payroll will drop next season in part because of poor attendance at baseball’s worst ballpark. …

This, of course, will do nothing to boost attendance. …

Shannon Brown, on his bucket list, tells Sporting News Today, “Visit and party in every city, county, state, country and continent all over the world. Also, see what outer space is like.” …

Europe’s up next.

jerome.crowe@latimes.com