New York seems inviting again as the Angels extend their autumn

Kendry Morales and the free-swinging, still-breathing Angels obviously haven’t got their fill of autumn in New York. . . .

Why does it seem so inviting? . . .

The New York Yankees can still be had, especially if the Angels can take the bat out of Alex Rodriguez’s hands and avoid having to rely too heavily on suddenly shaky Brian Fuentes. . . .

John Lackey was given a quicker hook in Game 5 than the clown climbing the rocks beyond the outfield wall. . . .

Just like the fan, Mike Scioscia’s move was all wet. . . .

When the resilient Angels later rallied, saving their manager from another long winter of soul-sucking second-guessing, nobody looked more relieved than Scioscia. . . .

In Dodgers dysfunctional-family lore, Frank McCourt’s firing of estranged wife Jamie easily trumps Al Campanis’ long-ago trading of son Jim and promises to be far more damaging. . . .

The last time the Dodgers won consecutive division titles before this year, in 1977 and ‘78, they reached the World Series by eliminating the Philadelphia Phillies in the playoffs. . . .

Payback was not so sweet. . . .

It looked at times as if Joe Torre, when not trotting out to make a pitching change, couldn’t bear to watch. . . .

Kobe Bryant and the Lakers are 2-1 favorites to win the team’s 16th NBA title next spring, according to odds posted at Bodog.com, while the Clippers are 90-1 longshots to win their first. . . .

LeBron James is the MVP favorite, Blake Griffin of the Clippers the top rookie-of-the-year pick. . . .

In addition to Bryant, three other players have a chance to add a fifth NBA championship to their resumes this season: Derek Fisher, Shaquille O’Neal and Tim Duncan. . . .

Will Bryant ever win a title without Fisher? . . .

O’Neal, with more than 2.4 million followers, is the “undisputed king of NBA Twitterdom,” the New York Times reports, with Dwight Howard, Paul Pierce, newlywed paparazzi magnet Lamar Odom and Fisher rounding out the top five. . . .

Regarding Matt Barkley’s outplaying Jimmy Clausen in USC’s victory at Notre Dame, reader Kevin Fay of Ventura e-mails to suggest, “Let Clausen go up against that horrendous Notre Dame defense and have Barkley go up against a very good USC defense and see what happens.” . . .

It happens every day in practice. . . .

You’d think that preseason All-American teams and conventional All-American teams would be enough, but now comes the Sporting News’ midseason All-American team. . . .

Among the honorees: Clausen, UCLA kicker Kai Forbath and USC’s Jeff Byers, Chris Galippo and Taylor Mays. . . .

Now that dreams of a Freeway World Series are kaput for at least another year, reader Mathieu Croydon of Redondo Beach e-mails to suggest, “A Kings-Ducks playoff series next spring seems a more likely scenario than Lakers-Clippers.” . . .

Either would be a first. . . .

To those who doubt that Albert Pujols is clean, Mark McGwire tells the Sporting News, “God gives us greatness a few times in our lifetime. Please, let’s all enjoy it.” . . .

If not for the likes of McGwire, that would be a lot easier. . . .

No Dodgers but five Phillies -- Chase Utley, Shane Victorino, Jayson Werth, Cole Hamels and Brad Lidge -- made the cut in Golf Digest’s ranking of the top 150 athlete golfers. . . .

Topping the list: Tony Romo. . . .

Ex-Raiders cornerback Mike Haynes is expected to be on hand today to dedicate a new field at Marshall High, his alma mater, where the football stadium is named in his honor. . . .

The athlete who broke the pole vault world record 35 times, as referenced in a TV commercial airing during the baseball playoffs, is Sergei Bubka of Ukraine, a 10-time world champion who broke the outdoor mark 17 times and the indoor mark 18. . . .

Yelena Isinbayeva has broken the women’s marks 29 times. . . .

With the Hilary Swank-starring “Amelia” opening in theaters today, reader Dick Bank of Brentwood e-mails to note that a statue of the aviator at the Amelia Earhart Branch library in North Hollywood was sculpted by Ernie Shelton, a former USC high jumper who ranked No. 1 in the world in 1954-55. . . .

Elgin Baylor, shown the door by the Clippers, and ex-Doors guitarist Robby Krieger are among those scheduled to play Monday at Valencia Country Club in the Tee It Up celebrity golf tournament benefiting the Wounded Warrior Project. . . .

Information: [email protected]. . . .

Coming soon, undoubtedly, to a souvenir stand near you: “Mannywood” bathmats, sponges and shower caps.

--

[email protected]