Chris Kaman wears red, white and blue only in Clipper Nation. . . .
Olympic nationality rules seem so arbitrary that it wouldn't be surprising to learn that Kaman was free to join forces with Dirk Nowitzki & Co. because he's a fan of Claudia Schiffer and once ate a piece of German chocolate cake. . . .
It's hard to believe that Elton Brand and Baron Davis did not consult with each another before opting out of their contracts this week, so it still seems a good bet they'll line up side by side for the Clippers next season. . . .
Corey Maggette could repudiate his me-first reputation with one stroke of his pen, signing with a contender such as the Boston Celtics or the San Antonio Spurs and accepting less money than he probably could get elsewhere. . . .
Next season, of course, he could reclaim it on the court. . . .
Light a sparkler and lift a mustard-slathered jumbo-dog toast to Vladimir Guerrero, Francisco Rodriguez and the Angels, the only team in baseball that leads its division on the Fourth of July for the second year in a row. . . .
Roseanne Roseannadanna, a character created by the late Gilda Radner on "Saturday Night Live," would have made a good Dodgers commentator. . . .
It's always something. . . .
Andruw Jones and Nomar Garciaparra, a combined nine for 16 in triple-A rehab assignments this week, hope that what happened in Vegas won't stay in Vegas when they rejoin the Dodgers today in San Francisco. . . .
Tennis is more interesting when Venus Williams and Serena Williams are at the top of their games. . . .
Roger Federer might not win a record sixth consecutive Wimbledon title this weekend, but numerologists like his chances of winning a gold medal at Beijing next month -- despite his early-round exits at the last two Olympics. . . .
Reports Outside magazine in its August issue, "The Swiss ace's birthday is Aug. 8, as in 8/8/08; the hard-court tournament lasts eight days; and eight is considered a lucky number in China." . . .
Not to mention Federer, who turns 27 next month, has won four U.S. Open titles on hard courts in the four years since the Athens Games. . . .
Rocco Mediate, whose everyman popularity shot through the roof last month after his stirring U.S. Open playoff against Tiger Woods, is going through the process of gaining membership at Bel-Air Country Club, where he would rub elbows with the likes of Jack Nicholson, Pete Sampras, Tom Cruise, Al Michaels, Dennis Quaid and Jerry West, among other members. . . .
