Bryant eclipses the 2008 leader, LeBron James, with the Lakers finishing No. 1 among fans purchasing team merchandise for the sixth time in seven seasons. Last season, the Boston Celtics, now No. 2, topped the ratings.

Bryant leads a top-five list followed in order by James, Chris Paul, Kevin Garnett and Allen Iverson. Pau Gasol is ninth on the list and, in a sign of the times, Shaquille O'Neal is 14th.

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Trivia time

Who was the opponent when O'Neal scored a career-high 61 points in 2000?

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Minus a Brit

Brit Night has come and gone for the Galaxy, whose most famous Brit, David Beckham, remains ensconced in Italy.

The bloom is definitely off the flower when it comes to Beckham and Major League Soccer.

In a Friday column for the Daily Express, John Dillon quotes MLS Commissioner Don Garber saying, "I don't know whether he's going to leave at the end of this season, in November, or whether we want him back."

Dillon also speculates about a past-his-prime star being chased by the Galaxy as a replacement for Beckham in 2010: "First on the list? Ronaldo, who is back in Brazil with Corinthians."

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Close to her heart

The most celebrated undergarment in soccer history has been seized as a result of the Sports Museum of America's declaring Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

The black sports bra Brandi Chastain famously modeled after converting the winning penalty kick in the 1999 Women's World Cup final was among about 500 pieces of memorabilia taken from the museum. Other pieces included Tony Hawk's childhood skateboard and Richard Petty's sunglasses.

Initially, Chastain was told she'd have to pay $250 plus shipping to reclaim the bra she donated to the museum. Later, a judge ruled that all athletes who lent artifacts to the museum could retrieve those items free of charge.

Either way, Chastain told the Wall Street Journal, "Thank goodness I have another one."

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Trivia answer

On March 6, 2000 (his 28th birthday), O'Neal scored 61 points against the Clippers.

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And finally

Among the top 10 thoughts that went through Matthew Stafford's mind on draft day, as read by the Detroit Lions' No. 1 pick on David Letterman's show:

"You don't often hear, 'Congratulations, you're going to Detroit.' "

"If the Lions win one game this year, I'm a hero."

"Why does Jessica Simpson keep calling me?"

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mike.penner@latimes.com