Linesman Don Henderson, working Tuesday's game between Anaheim and visiting Washington, collected a shiner when he got a little too close to the action. / Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
To this day, Jerry West told the San Francisco Chronicle, he still gets asked by L.A. Lakers fans why he traded popular guard Norm Nixon after drafting Magic Johnson.
�I felt like the worst person in the world,� said West, now a consultant to the Golden State Warriors. �Jack Nicholson wore black for several games, but it was about Magic Johnson being the leader of this team, not having to share the ball.�
Quick hits
■ Barry Sanders, via Twitter, on the possibility of autographing artifacts being sold from the Silverdome: �FYI � I am not signing urinals ...�
■ Best non-NCAA tournament bracket yet: DJ Gallo�s �Bracket of Completely Random Things That Aren�t Related in Any Way� at sportspickle.com.
■ Remember that Ozzie Smith/Budweiser petition to get Opening Day named a national holiday? It got the required 100,000 signatures at whitehouse.gov, so the White House has to �look into it.�
■ Rex Ryan, talking new Jets receiver Eric Decker � and reality TV star, with his country singer wife, Jessie James � on SNY.tv: �I will say this: that�s a good-looking kid now, there�s no question about it. When he showed up, I�m like, �God, he�s not going to fit in the locker room because he�s way better looking than the rest of the guys we�ve got.� �
■ Just happened to be browsing a forum at gameuseduniverse.com, where one fan wanted to know how to get a Prince Fielder Tigers jersey authenticated. Have you checked for nacho stains?
Compiled from staff reports and news services by STEVE SCHRADER, who can be reached at 313-222-6710 or sschrader@freepress.com.
