Jersey

'You can't blame them. Then again, they are hiring a new general manager.' Richard Jefferson, New Jersey Net forward, on the Boston Celtics' drafting Joe Johnson and Kedrick Brown ahead of him in the 2001 NBA draft

Jersey, jersey on the wall . . . Magic Johnson's uniform shirt, No. 32, was retired last season, put alongside those worn by other Laker legends, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain and Jerry West. And the thinking Tuesday, as Johnson announced that he was coming back to play, was that the jersey will stay on the wall. "We haven't really made up our minds to do anything," said Claire Rothman, general manager of the Forum. "You know how you joke about things?

'I just played horrible, man, and I'll have all summer to think about it. I didn't show up when it counted. It's more frustrating than anything, knowing I didn't bring one in when we needed it.' Kenyon Martin, New Jersey Net forward, who missed 20 of 23 shots in Game 6 against San Antonio

When you're retiring a fellow's jersey, make sure all your I's are dotted and all your Vs crossed -- that's the takeaway lesson from Tuesday's ceremony honoring former Los Angeles Laker Shaquille O'Neal, which saw his name and number 34 unveiled high above the Staples Center crowd -- on the wrong side of a jersey. Since our compatriot Ben Bolch writes about the glitch in today's Sports section, we won't revisit it in much detail except to note two things: First, I'm embarrassed I didn't notice the error myself the second the black screen covering the jersey dropped below the distinctive V-shaped neckline during the televised ceremony, since I fancy myself a keen observer of the Laker uniform since the moment I landed in the City of Angels.