Bench

Reporting from Tempe, Ariz. — Bobby Abreu hasn't arrived at Angels camp, but the veteran outfielder already has caused a stir, telling a reporter from ESPNdeportes.com Tuesday that he would prefer to be traded if he isn't playing every day. "I'm an everyday player; I can still be in the lineup for a major league team," Abreu said by phone from Venezuela. "I will not be on the bench knowing that I can play. If the Angels don't have a position for me, then the best thing is to trade me. " The problem is that the Angels can't guarantee Abreu a starting job this early in camp, and they would prefer to keep him as insurance in case Kendrys Morales doesn't return from a broken left ankle and Mark Trumbo is slow to return from a stress fracture in his right foot.

MINNEAPOLIS — Peter Bourjos' game-changing speed and Gold Glove-caliber defense don't do the Angels any good on the bench, but that's where those tools were again Wednesday night. The center fielder was not in the lineup for the ninth time in 11 games, his playing time greatly reduced by the April 27 promotion of Mike Trout from triple A, but his attitude remaining upbeat and optimistic. "It will all work out one way or another," said Bourjos, who is batting .192 with a .259 on-base percentage.

I have been a Laker fan for many years and a great admirer of Magic Johnson. But now that Magic has retired and the Lakers are struggling, many have started to doubt the ability of the team to win without him. I don't think the Lakers are struggling because of the absence of Magic, but because of the distraction caused by Magic. I don't see any point for him to sit on the bench with the Lakers. I understand he is trying to provide moral support, but I think Magic's presence is a big distraction for the Laker organization.

The University of Washington's starting tight end, Aaron Pierce, broke his right wrist in the football team's season-opening victory against San Jose State and will be replaced in the lineup for Saturday's game at Purdue, Husky coach Don James said. Taking Pierce's spot will be senior Mark Kilpack, James said Monday. Pierce, a 6-5, 228-pound junior, was injured diving for a second-quarter pass in the Huskies' 20-17 victory, but played the rest of the game.

They are a team of stars, in a town of stars, but some of my best Lakers memories involve the scrubs. If Disney made a movie about the Lakers' last dozen years, it would be called "Beauty and the Bench," as the five happy endings would have been impossible without either. Everyone remembers the alley-oop from Kobe Bryant to Shaquille O'Neal in the era-changing Game 7 of the 2000 Western Conference finals against Portland, but I remember two other guys. Brian Shaw and Robert Horry came off the bench that afternoon to combine for the game's biggest shots and rebounds, including a late-third-quarter three-pointer by Shaw that began the historic comeback and remains one of the most important bombs in Lakers history.

As a sizable group of reporters huddled around Nick Young's locker, his teammates began calling out his nickname. "Go Swaggy P," they said, muffling his response to questions. Young beamed a huge smile. "Feels good," he said of being the object of their cheers. "I was waiting for one of those type games. " Coming off of the bench, Young led the Clippers with 19 points, his highest output since being acquired from Washington at the March 15 trade deadline. And he did it efficiently -- he shot seven for 10 from the field and was three for four from the three-point line, helping the Clippers beat Oklahoma City, 92-77.

Before I get to "The Hunger Games," motivator Donald Sterling , idiot Dodgers fans and asking whether Arte Moreno is talking to Mike Scioscia , I would think we're all in agreement: Kobe Bryant should be coaching the Lakers. Tell me you would miss Mike Brown . Let's be honest here, the Lakers have never played so well. And that's with Kobe dressed in a very nice suit and focused only on how he might assist the other players. It's just amazing what happens when he concentrates on team play.

Eric Bledsoe dribbled the basketball on the wing during a recent Clippers game, his eyes darting from Ronny Turiaf down low to Jamal Crawford working his way around a Lamar Odom screen. When Crawford was clear, Bledsoe delivered a pass to the veteran guard, who took two dribbles before he was double-teamed by his man and Odom's defender. Crawford passed to Odom, who surveyed the floor to see a closely guarded Matt Barnes behind the three-point line. Then, Odom drew the attention of another defender as he penetrated the lane, providing an opening for his pass to Turiaf for a dunk.

It has come to my attention in watching the Lakers that Mike Dunleavy keeps the starters in the game much too long. In the game against Orlando at the Forum, the Lakers had a 20-point lead in the third quarter and Magic was still playing. Dunleavy didn't put the bench in until six minutes were left in the game. How will Brown, Campbell and the others get NBA experience if he plays them only rarely? Magic Johnson needs to rest more so he can perform his magic during the playoffs.

A judge and landlord accused of running an arson-for-profit scheme and hiring thugs to assault his poor and elderly tenants pleaded guilty to federal racketeering charges Wednesday and resigned from the bench. Civil Court Judge Samuel Weinberg, 61, faces 20 years in prison and a $25,000 fine at his sentencing, scheduled for June 26.