Obscured by the fact that the Los Angeles Lakers have catapulted to a remarkable, NBA-best 12-1 start is Kobe Bryant’s slump.

Yep, production by the Lakers’ marquee player is down across the board. Yet the Lakers are winning, and usually by huge margins.

“Kobe seems to understand now that if it’s not his night, he has to help the other guys play well,” Lakers coach Phil Jackson told me yesterday. “He’s become more of a we-we guy and less of a me-me guy.”

• The Lakers’ cross-town rivals, meanwhile, are performing in diametrically opposed fashion.

The Clippers, perennial dregs, are 2-12, and they’re already planning to shake up their roster. They’re even willing to trade their top off-season acquisition – former Toronto Raptor Marcus Camby.

• Quarterback Michael Vick, completing his sentence for mistreating dogs, is keeping in first-rate shape in prison and plans to formally apply soon for reinstatement with the NFL and the Atlanta Falcons.

The Falcons, however, don’t want him back and there’s widespread speculation that, despite his exceptional talents, NFL clubs will stay away from him.

Which raises the question: Could Vick wind up in the CFL?

"Anyone who wants Michael better be prepared to face the dog lovers of America," Kansas City Chiefs general manager Carl Peterson said. "There’ll be a lot of problems. People love their pets, and particularly dogs. There’ll be protests, people expressing their thoughts — even though he’s served his time. And that goes for Canada, too.”

• Although kicker Sandro DeAngelis is commanding lots of attention down south, he’s telling everyone and anyone that he’ll return to Calgary for his fifth year with the Stampeders unless he is guaranteed a respectable signing bonus from an NFL club.

For more on DeAngelis, check out my latest CFL Report.

• The New York Yankees are strongly pursuing ex-Blue Jays second baseman Orlando Hudson and will trade Robinson Cano if they sign the O-Dog.

And the world champion Philadelphia Phillies are about to re-sign 46-year-old pitcher Jamie Moyer.

• A new offer for megabucks has been made to NHL free agent Mats Sundin, who likely will narrow his list of possibilities to three teams next week. He’s eyeing a January return. Besides Tampa Bay, clubs pursuing him include the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators, Vancouver Canucks, Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers, Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers, New York Islanders and Anaheim Ducks.

And I only have one word about the Leafs’ decision to hire the irascible Brian Burke as club bossman:

Why?

Marty York is Metro’s national sports columnist as well as an
instructor at the College of Sports Media in Toronto. He can be heard
regularly on Vancouver radio station CKNW with Sportstalk host Dan
Russell. Contact Marty at marty.york@metronews.ca